TSAMTO, April 27. As reported by Reuters with reference to the Romanian Defense Ministry, Bucharest intends to accelerate the planned acquisition of F-16A /B fighters from the Norwegian Air Force.
Romania first acquired F-16 fighters from the Portuguese Air Force in 2016 to replace the outdated MiG-21. Now the Ministry of Defense intends to accelerate the purchase of 32 additional aircraft from the Norwegian Air Force to man two additional squadrons being formed.
As reported by TSAMTO, in 2013, the Romanian Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the supply of the first 12 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fighters from the Portuguese Air Force to replace the outdated MiG-21. The aircraft were delivered from September 2016 to September 2017. In December 2019, a contract worth 130 million euros was signed for the supply of five additional fighters. The first pair of planes arrived in Romania in August 2020, the fifth plane – in March 2021.
At the end of December 2021, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense announced that the country's parliament had granted preliminary permission to begin the procurement procedure for 32 F-16 fighters in the M6.5.2 configuration with accompanying logistical support from the Norwegian Air Force, as well as a package of equipment and services for their modernization in the United States. The purchase budget is about 454 million euros. Previously, the cost of the aircraft is estimated at 354 million euros, logistics support and the supply of special equipment for modernization from the United States – 100 million euros. At the end of December 2021, the Romanian government signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 32 aircraft from the Norwegian Air Force in a deal worth up to $513 million.
The aircraft will be delivered in a fully operational condition with a resource that ensures their operation during the transition period of at least 10 years before the delivery of the 5th generation F-35 Lightning-2 fighters.
The first F-16 of the Norwegian Air Force made its first flight on December 12, 1979. As of the end of 2021, of the 72 F-16A/B purchased in 1975, 57 aircraft remained in service. The last F-16 fighter of the Norwegian Air Force performed its last flight on January 6, 2022.
It was assumed that the first aircraft would be delivered to the Romanian Air Force in 2023, and the remaining ones – during 2024. In 2023, the Romanian Air Force should consist of two F-16 squadrons. At the same time, modernization of the aircraft purchased in Portugal will begin.
