TSAMTO, June 22. The Romanian Government has approved a draft law on the intermediate combat capability of the air defense system, provided for by the Concept of phased achievement of the air defense Potential within the framework of the "Multi-purpose Air Force Aircraft" program.
According to the provisions of the bill, the Romanian government will conclude a contract with the Norwegian government for the supply of 32 F-16 aircraft with an accompanying initial logistics support package and an additional package of equipment and services (provided by the US government).
The aircraft will be delivered fully operational, and the available resources will ensure their operability for at least a 10-year transition period to fifth-generation aircraft. The purchased fighters meet the new requirements of NATO, and in the future will be upgraded to a common configuration with the previously purchased F-16 M6.X. The purchase of 32 aircraft in Norway also provides for the training of a minimum number of specialists in their maintenance and support.
The solution ensures the participation of the Romanian defense industry in the maintenance and modernization of the F-16 through Aerostar Bacau.
The estimated cost of the acquisition is 454 million euros without VAT. Given the complexity of the program, the exact cost will be determined after agreeing on the terms of the contract and negotiations with representatives of the governments of Norway and the United States.
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contract for the supply of the first 12 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fighters from the Portuguese Air Force to replace the outdated MiG-21.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 in March 2021.
Currently, the Romanian Air Force operates 17 F-16 aircraft in the M5.2R configuration, which will be upgraded to the M6.X configuration.
At the end of December 2021, the Romanian Parliament granted the Ministry of Defense 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. Previously, the cost of the aircraft themselves was estimated at 354 million euros, logistics support and the supply of special equipment for modernization from the United States – 100 million euros. On December 20, 2021, the Romanian government signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 32 aircraft decommissioned by the Norwegian Air Force in a deal worth up to $513 million.
It is assumed that the first aircraft will 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.