Norway's first F-16s have arrived at Turzii Plain

The first three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, out of the 32 purchased from Norway, arrived on Friday at Air Base 71 at Turzii Plain and will join the 48th Fighter Squadron. The purchase of the 32 F 176 aircraft, to be delivered by 2025, and the related package of goods and services will ensure the increase of our country's security by executing the defense of the national/NATO airspace, in peacetime and in crisis situations , through the Permanent Combat Service - Air Police (SLP-PA), under NATO command, it is specified in the press release of the Ministry of National Defense issued on Friday, upon the arrival of the first three aircraft.

Angel Tîlvăr, the Minister of National Defense, said: "Through the gradual arrival, throughout this year and the next, of the 32 multi-role F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, which will endow two more squadrons of the Air Force, Romania is strengthening its capabilities of air defense at a level adapted to the security challenges in the region. These aircraft will play an important role in maintaining a credible allied defense posture and deterring any aggression on the eastern flank and, just as importantly, will ensure the transition of our air force into the 5th generation era - the endowment of F-35 aircraft." .

This is the second series of three F-16 aircraft purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway and the related package of goods and services, the first being received at the end of November 2023, in the 86th Air Base "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniţă" from Borcea.

We note that, until now, our country had a complete squadron of F-16 planes made up of 17 machines bought from Portugal and located at the 86th Borcea Air Base.

With the three aircraft arriving at Turzii Plain on Friday, the Romanian Air Force has 20 F-16 fighter jets, purchased based on the provisions of the Concept for the gradual realization of the air defense capability within the "Air Force Multirole Aircraft" program.

The aircraft coming from Norway are delivered in operational condition, their available resource ensuring their operation for a transition period of at least 10 years to the 5th generation aircraft, which makes the purchase of Norwegian fighter jets in fact , a capability transfer between two allied NATO countries.

The aircraft will ensure the fulfillment of the new existing requirements at the NATO level, later to be introduced in the modernization program in the same configuration (M6.X) as the F-16 aircraft from the first squadron, already entered into the equipment of the Romanian Air Force. The modernization and maintenance will be carried out through the company Aerostar Bacău.