European F-16 Training Center in Romania, officially inaugurated at Fetesti Air Base

The European F-16 Training Center in Romania, set to operate at the 86th Fetesti Air Base, was officially inaugurated on Monday by the Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvar, and her counterpart from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren. The inauguration ceremony was attended by ambassadors from Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States, and Ukraine, along with representatives from the American company Lockheed Martin. Also present were the Chief of Defense Staff, General Daniel Petrescu, the Chief of Air Force Staff, Lieutenant General Viorel Pana, and heads of central structures of the Ministry of National Defense.   This pioneering European project signifies a significant milestone for Romanian-Dutch cooperation and practically demonstrates allied solidarity. Additionally, it will expedite the training of Romanian pilots for the operation of F-16 aircraft acquired by Romania from Norway, which will soon be integrated into the Romanian Air Force, as conveyed by the Ministry of National Defense.   “The European F-16 Training Center will play a vital role in preparing Romanian pilots for operating these high-performance aircraft. Through this ambitious initiative, we aim not only to train a significant number of pilots but also to acquire new qualifications for those already operating F-16s in Romania,” stated the Romanian Minister of Defense. Minister Tîlvar laso underlined that the Center at the 86th Air Base aims to provide an adequate response not only to the current and future needs of the Romanian Air Force but also to support allies and partners, such as Ukraine.   “During the NATO Summit in Vilnius, we signed Romania’s participation in the establishment of the International F-16 Coalition, alongside a significant number of states. This demonstrated what we can achieve together in support of Ukraine, concurrently providing a suitable platform to align our efforts with those of Allies and regional partners. Currently, we are exploring the most effective ways to integrate Ukrainian pilot training into the program as soon as possible,” Minister Tîlvar told the inauguration ceremony.   Last week, the Netherlands sent the first five F-16 fighter jets to Romania to be used in training Ukrainian pilots.   The Netherlands will deliver between 12 and 18 F-16 aircraft from its air forces to be used in the new European pilot training center in Romania, set to open soon, announced the Dutch Ministry of Defense.   Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated in a video call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of last month that the Netherlands would send the F-16s to Romania within two weeks.   The Dutch also pledged to supply F-16s to Ukraine for combat use. Similar promises were made by Denmark, Norway, and Belgium.