Скачать или смотреть DEFENSE..!!! Romania Buy Latest F-16 Fighter Jets From Netherlands To Power Its Air Force.

Romania swiftly strengthened its air force capabilities after Defense Romania media reported that the Netherlands was in covert talks to permanently transfer its fleet of F-16 fighter jets to the Eastern European nation before the end of the year.

This would increase Romania's air force to 70 F-16 fighter jets if it were put into action. In the face of persistent regional tensions, the action not only solidifies Romania's position as a crucial NATO partner on the alliance's eastern flank but also establishes it as a major training ground for Ukrainian pilots.

At least 18 Dutch F-16s are part of the transfer, according to Defense Romania, and are already undergoing training at Romania's 86th Air Base in Borcea. More aircraft are probably on the way.

Originally created by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) in the 1970s, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter jet that has long been a mainstay of air forces all over the world.

The early-model Block 15 fighter jets from the 1980s that Romania currently owns were purchased from Portugal, and later this year, more sophisticated Block 70 fighter jets are anticipated to be delivered from Norway. The Block 20 Mid-Life Update [MLU] version of the Dutch F-16, which had major modifications in the 1990s and 2000s to enhance its avionics, radar systems, and weapons compatibility, is most likely the one in question.

It can carry a wide range of armaments, such as precision-guided bombs and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and has a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a battle radius of more than 340 miles. The F-16 fighter jet is still a strong and adaptable platform.

In order to replace its aged fleet of MiG-21 aircraft from the Soviet era, Romania entered into an agreement with Portugal in 2013 to purchase 12 used Block 15 aircraft, marking the beginning of its F-16 adventure.

Romania has stepped up its modernization efforts since then, and by 2022, it has acquired 32 more F-16 Block 70s from Norway. With their advanced electronic warfare equipment and cutting-edge AESA radars, these new aircraft mark the apex of the F-16's development.

This transfer is unique since it serves two purposes. Along with modernizing the Romanian air force, the Dutch F-16s are part of a training program called the European F-16 Training Center [EFTC], which was established in Borcea in 2023.

The F-16 has historically shown itself to be generationally adaptable, although nations with similar mixed fleets, such as Turkey, have made significant investments in fighter aircraft maintenance and upkeep. In order to preserve this increased capability, Romania might have to follow suit at the Borcea base.

It is envisaged that Romania's roughly 70 F-16s will mark a significant milestone in the future, enabling them to transform their air force from a defensive one to a regional force that can exert influence over the unstable skies of the Black Sea.

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