As part of the agreement, the Netherlands will donate eighteen F-16 fighter jets to Romania to support the continued operation of the training centre. “Today, in The Hague, I signed a memorandum alongside my Dutch counterpart, Ruben Brekelmans, confirming our shared commitment to make the F-16 Training Centre in Romania permanent. Here, Romanian, Ukrainian, and other allied pilots train side by side. This is an important step for the security of our region,” said Minister Moșteanu in a statement on social media.
The F-16 Training Centre, established in 2023, is the result of cooperation between the Romanian and Dutch governments, with key support from U.S. defence and aerospace company Lockheed Martin. The company provides instructors, simulators and maintenance services, ensuring the centre operates in line with NATO training standards.
Initially provided for training purposes, the eighteen F-16 jets will now be fully transferred to Romanian ownership under the signed memorandum. “The F-16 training centre is a concrete and valuable result of the bilateral cooperation between Romania and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the essential support of our American partners at Lockheed Martin,” noted Moșteanu, describing the facility as “a unique advanced training platform in Europe.”
Following the transfer, the Romanian Air Force will operate a fleet of 67 F-16 aircraft, which will be structured into four squadrons. This includes two squadrons currently being formed under a €388 million contract with Norway, signed in 2022, for the acquisition of 32 F-16s, according to Defence Romania.
Romania is also planning for the future of its air capabilities. In November 2024, the government signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the United States for the purchase of 32 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft under a Foreign Military Sales agreement.
