Lockheed Martin and the governments of Romania and the Netherlands have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to establish an F-16 pilot training center in Romania. The center will be located at Romania’s 86th “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță” Air Base in Borcea, Călărași County. The project is expected to focus on the effectiveness and safety of Romanian F-16 pilots but could expand to include training pilots of other nations.
“Not only does this project underline Romania’s commitment to collective security, but also reflects the solid support provided to our partners,” the Romanian Ministry of National Defence said in a statement. “Through the F-16 Pilot Training Center, Romania consolidates its role as a security provider, by substantially contributing to supporting Ukraine’s capabilities in the collective efforts made for stability and security.”
Aircraft from the Royal Dutch Air Force will be deployed to the 86th Air Base to implement the project with Lockheed Martin providing flight instructors and technical engineering personnel. Lockheed Martin noted that aircrews from the Netherlands and Romania already train with the company’s F-16 simulators. According to Lockheed Martin, the F-16 has flown an estimated 19.5 million flight hours to date with more than 3,100 currently operating in 25 countries.
I guess that ex-military pilots who’d privately trained non-allies on Western procedures are now vindicated?
Arthur – not sure what you intend by your comment, but Romania is definitely on “our” side. Back in the cold war that wasn’t true, but that was a long time ago! They are a NATO member and a member of the European Union.
My mistake; I have a tough time believing that Romania would swear allegiance to large powers on either side. I guess they will take free airplanes and free training but beyond that I don’t see them wanting to fight a war for us. Allies? Not so much.
Hard to know who is ally and who is not is until the chips are down.
Romania got C-130H models from the USG more than a decade ago.
Really?
Indeed Romania is a membet of European Union and Nato. But I think when You, Mr, Bill K., asked “Really”, You’re reffering if the Romanian “powers” are effectively in our West side. I’ll say they probably are.
Oops!, “member”, not “membet”.