The last flights of the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft, which have been in service with the Romanian Air Force for 61 years, took place on Monday. Since 1994, 20 MiG-21 LanceR aircraft have crashed.

The MiG-21 LanceR aircraft of the Romanian Air Force will be decommissioned based on the May 2022 decision of the Supreme Council of National Defense to approve the Memorandum on “Decommissioning of the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft and accelerated transition to service”. F-16 from the Air Force Fund of Romania”.

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

Therefore, on Monday, starting at 11.00, there will be simultaneous ceremonies at the 71st General Emanuel Ionescu Air Base, Campia Turzii and at the 86th Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mochornica Air Base, Borca, which will end with the plane taking off. The last MiG-21 LanceRs in service are being sent to the 95th Erou capitan aviator Alexandru Șerbănescu Air Base, Bacău, where they will be decommissioned.

Starting at 12:00, the 95th Air Base “Erou capitan aviator Alexandru Șerbănescu” from Bacău opens its doors to all aviation lovers. The entrance is free, spectators will be able to watch the arrival, transition to the vertical of the airport and landing of the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft, taken from two other air bases, and will also be able to visit the museum named after units, announced the Air Force of Romania.

Since 1994, 20 MiG-21 LanceR aircraft have crashed.

How many MiG-21 LanceRs would Romania have?

The exact number of MiG-21 LanceR fighters still in service with the Romanian Air Force in 2022 remains confidential, but unofficial estimates indicate that in March 2022 the army relied on about 30 such aircraft, less than two full squadrons (the squadron does not consists of 16 aircraft).

However, in reality, the number of MiG 21 LanceR aircraft that were actually operational and in use was even lower – somewhere around 24-26 aircraft, several sources in the field told HotNews.ro a few years ago.

Romania is buying 32 F-16 aircraft from Norway

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”.

The 17 F-16s were purchased in two parts from Portugal and upgraded with US help, and the whole package cost Romania around €628 million, including personnel training.

F-35 aircraft, after 2030

Romania will purchase the latest generation F-35 aircraft, the members of the country’s Supreme Defense Council decided. On April 11, they approved the concept of achieving the combat capability of air defense with V generation multi-purpose aircraft.

The process of modernization of the Air Force will continue with the purchase of the latest generation F-35 aircraft. These aircraft, equipped with a wide range of advanced sensors, the ability to exchange encrypted information in real time with both air platforms and ground defense systems, the ability to actually control the operational picture of the battlefield, as well as with high-precision intelligent munitions, make it possible to achieve and maintain superiority in the air, a prerequisite for ensuring sovereignty in national airspace and, if necessary, for its protection.

Klaus Iohannis has already announced in February 2022 that Romania will purchase the F-35, a 5th generation aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin, which has become the new aircraft of choice in many NATO member states, including Norway, which is transitioning from to the F- 16, planes that will reach us in this way.

The transition to 5th generation aircraft, even if it is theoretically planned to happen after 2030, will take years and will require, in addition to pre-signed contracts and large payments in installments before the aircraft are actually delivered, infrastructure preparation, logistics and training pilots