At least 28 invoices totaling more than three million euros issued on the basis of contracts for the purchase of 17 F-16 fighter jets have not appeared in the accounting records of the Ministry of Defense since 2022, according to the latest financial data. the audit report conducted by the Accounting Chamber on the financial condition of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The costs were not carried forward to the following year, resulting in an underestimation of the costs incurred. In addition, the financial audit shows that the Romanian state paid more than 200 million dollars, almost one billion lei, to the United States government for components and services for the F-16 aircraft, but even if the advances were paid as early as 10 years ago, the products in question , not yet delivered.

So far, Romania has purchased 17 F-16 fighter jets in two batches of 12 and then 5 aircraft from the Portuguese Ministry of Defense based on two contracts signed in 2013 and 2016. The first 12 aircraft with a purchase price of 600 million dollars, delivered in 2016 and 2017, entered service with the Romanian Air Force only in 2019. This is due to the fact that the planes, which are 40 years old, have previously gone through the modernization process. Over the years, the Ministry of Defense has paid significant costs for the repair and maintenance of these aircraft, which require complex maintenance.

Read more at fanatik.ro

The article is supported by fanatik.ro