Romania will begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, possibly as early as next month CNNciting a source familiar with the current discussions.
The source said the preparations include Romania’s request for an F-16 flight simulator from the plane’s manufacturer Lockheed Martin, News.ro reported.
An air base in Romania, which has not yet been publicly announced, has been identified for training.
Romania has ten qualified instructors who have completed more than 2,000 flight hours in this aircraft.
Romania has 17 F-16s and is buying another 32 from Norway
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 on the basis of 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.
At the same time, 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 logistical 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.
Three to four aircraft from Romania’s current F-16 squadron could be used simultaneously in a training mission, the source added.
The length of the training program is to be determined, but Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Tuesday that he hopes to see results within six months.
At a NATO summit in Lithuania on Tuesday, Ukraine announced the creation of a “coalition” of 11 countries to train its pilots in the F-16 fighter jets that Kyiv needs to support its frontline counteroffensive. The coalition includes 11 countries: Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Great Britain.
Reznikov also thanks Romania
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, also posted on Twitter a message of thanks and a photo from a meeting with 11 ministers, and also thanked the Minister of Defense of Romania, Angel Tilvar.
“I am especially grateful to Denmark and the Netherlands for their outstanding leadership in this process. Ukrainian pilots, technicians and support staff will take part in the training program,” Reznikov wrote on Twitter.
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Source: Hot News
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