Romania Debuts F-16 Center, Hosts Ukrainian Pilots for Joint Exercises

13 November, 2023 F-16BM of the Netherlands Air Force in Romania. Photo by Kajsa Ollongren On Monday, November 13, the European Training Center for F-16 Fighter Pilots opened in Romania.

The pilots of the Air Force of Ukraine will also be trained here. The Center was opened with the participation of Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren, DW reports. The Center is located at the Romanian Fetesti Air Base, 150 kilometers east of Bucharest.

It was created jointly with other allies and Lockheed Martin, which is the manufacturer of these U.S. fighter jets. It meets the training requirements of NATO pilots.

Dutch F-16AM in Romania. Photo credits: Dutch Ministry of Defence

Lockheed Martin provided instructors and technical staff for the exercise.

In October, it became known that Ukrainian pilots would be part of the "first wave" of F-16 training at a new training center in Romania. As part of the "aviation coalition," the Netherlands provides its aircraft for training Ukrainians. The first three Dutch F-16AM fighter jets arrived in Romania on November 7.

Later, it became known that the Netherlands planned to increase the number of F-16 fighter jets in Romania to speed up and increase the intensity of training for Ukrainian pilots. By the end of the year, the country aims to deploy up to 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Romanian air base. The increase in the number of these aircraft should have a positive impact on the quality and speed of training for Ukrainian pilots.

F-16 fighters of the Netherlands Air Force in Romania.

November 2023. Freeze frame from the Valahia News video

While the F-16s are in Romania, they will remain the property of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Initially, the fighter jets will be used to train Ukrainian and Romanian instructors who are to undergo a refresher course.

After that, pilots will be involved in the exercises for retraining.

According to the Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Armed Forces, General Onno Eichelsheim, training of Ukrainian pilots is to begin early next year.