Dutch F-16 arrived in Romania for the training of Ukrainian pilots

7 November, 2023 Dutch F-16AM in Romania. Photo credits: Dutch Ministry of Defence The first Dutch F-16 fighter jets arrived at the new European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) at the Romanian Baza 86 Aeriana Fetesti airbase.

Scramble magazine reports on this. Three F-16AM fighter hets with tail numbers J-010, J-019, and J-366 and two F-16BMs with tail numbers J-064 and J-210 arrived in Romania from the Belgian Gosselies air base. The EFTC will primarily use F-16s to improve the training of instructors and then train Ukrainian pilots.

According to information provided by the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the aircraft will remain in Dutch ownership.

F-16's flight to Romania. Source: FlightRadar

Judging by the photo, the marking of the Dutch aviation units was removed, and only the silhouette of the Royal Air Force insignia remained. Militarnyi reported in October on the planned dispatch of Dutch F-16 fighter jets to Romania to train Ukrainian pilots.

In July, it was announced that Romania would create a regional training center for F-16 fighter jet pilots. Ukrainian pilots would also be able to study there. Thus, Romania joined the "aviation coalition," which supports the training of Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel, as well as the transfer of modern multifunctional fighter jets within the framework of military assistance.

The center was created together with other allies and Lockheed Martin, a manufacturer of these American combat aircraft. It was to meet NATO member training requirements.

Dutch F-16BM in Romania. Photo by Kajsa Ollongren

In addition, it was reported that Ukrainian pilots would enter the "first wave" of training on F-16 fighter jets in the new Romanian training centers.

The US Department of Defense also plans to start training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 in America.

It is known that the preparation can take between 5 and 9 months.