Romania To Get F-16 Training Center

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.