The process of decommissioning the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft of the Romanian Air Force has already begun, even if no official announcement has been made yet, reports Aviația Magazin with reference to sources on the ground.

According to sources contacted by Aviația Magazin, the MiG-21s have been decommissioned and sent for storage at the 95th Air Base in Bacău, as they have exhausted their flight life.

“Since the agreement between the Ministry of Defense and Aerostar Bacău for the maintenance of MiGs expired last fall, the aircraft will no longer be restored, but will be sent to a well-deserved retirement,” the newspaper writes.

According to images released by Plane Spotters Bacău, the first retired MiG-21 LanceR C aircraft to be decommissioned has flight number 5724 and arrived in Bacău in the middle of this week.

“The aircraft will be evaluated, sensitive equipment that can still be used will be dismantled and then parked on a platform for long-term storage,” Aviația Magazin notes.

CSAT decided to decommission the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft by May 2023

Romania’s MiG-21 LanceR fighter jets are due to be officially decommissioned in May 2023, according to a decision made in 2022 by the country’s Supreme Defense Council.

The May 2022 CSAT decision stated that “the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft will be used until 15 May 2023 exclusively for missions specific to the Standing Combat Air Police Service and to support the flight training of pilots selected for the purposes.” continued use of this type of aircraft.”

CSAT’s decision comes after the MiG fleet was grounded for almost a month following a series of incidents, including one that crashed near Constanta last March.

Romania is buying 32 F-16 aircraft from Norway. The first will arrive in the country this year

The Ministry of National Defense of Romania signed a contract with the Government of the Kingdom of Norway in November 2022 for the purchase of 32 F-16 aircraft in the M6.5.2 configuration, spare engines and logistics support.

The value of the contract, signed with the government of the Kingdom of Norway, is 388 million euros and is designed for three years, with the first aircraft to be delivered at the end of 2023.

Currently, the Romanian Air Force has 17 F-16 aircraft in the M5.2R configuration, which will be upgraded to the M6.6 configuration, purchased based on the provisions of the Concept for the gradual realization of air defense capabilities within the framework of “Air Force Multipurpose Aircraft”. 17 F-16 aircraft were purchased in two parts from Portugal and modernized with the help of the US, the whole package cost Romania about 628 million euros, including personnel training.