Image source: topwar.ru
Romania suspends flights of MiG-21 Lancer fighters in service with the country's Air Force, the corresponding order was received today, April 15, signed by the Chief of the Defense Staff of the Romanian Armed Forces, General Daniel Petrescu.
It is not reported for how long the MiG-21 flights were suspended, but it is emphasized that this measure was taken due to the large number of incidents with these fighters. In the future, the country's Air Force will perform tasks on F-16 fighters purchased from the Portuguese Air Force in the period from 2016 to 2021. In total, the Romanians have 17 American F-16s. NATO allies will provide security assistance.
- the Romanian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Judging by the fact that at the same time Bucharest accelerates the procedure for the purchase of 32 F-16 aircraft from the presence of the Norwegian Air Force, MiG-21 Lancer fighters can be completely decommissioned and sold to some country. By the way, Moldova used to have views on them, even negotiated. In general, the Romanian Air Force plans to completely get rid of the MiG-21 Lancer by 2024.
To date, the Romanian Air Force has 30 MiG-21 fighters of two modifications: MiG-21 Lancer B and MiG-21 Lancer C. Version B is a two-seat combat training aircraft, and C is an air superiority aircraft. There was also a version A for striking ground targets, but all aircraft of this modification have already been written off.
The first MIG-21 entered service with the Romanian Air Force back in the 60s of the twentieth century. The exact number of aircraft delivered is unknown, but in the 90s more than a hundred MiG-21MF and MiG-21U aircraft underwent modernization, within which they were able to use NATO standard weapons. The modernization program was developed by Israel.
