The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) announced on Thursday that three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway have landed at the General Emanoil Ionescu Air Base 71 in Campia Turzii in order to equip the 48th Fighter Squadron.

„This is the fourth series of three F-16 aircraft to arrive in the country, of those purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway, together with the related package of goods and services. The finalization of the reception of the entire batch is estimated for the end of 2025,” shows a MApN press release.

According to the cited source, the acquisition of the aircraft and the package of goods and services will increase Romania’s security by defending the national airspace and the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance.

The Romanian Air Force has previously received nine of the 32 airplanes that were purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway.

According to the Concept of the gradual realisation of the air defence capability, under the framework of the Multirole Aircraft of the Air Force programme, the Romanian Government has awarded the Government of the Kingdom of Norway the contract for the acquisition of 32 F-16 aircraft, with initial logistic support, and a complementary package of goods and services (from the Government of the United States of America). The aircraft will be delivered in operational condition, their available resources ensuring their operation for a transition period of at least 10 years to the fifth-generation F-35, the purchase of the Norwegian fighter jets becoming in fact a transfer of capability between two allied NATO countries, MApN said, on the occasion of the reception of the previous series of three F-16 Fighting Falcons from Norway in June.

AGERPRES