Romania is to buy five more F16 fighters from Portugal

Romanian Ministry of National Defense welcomes adoption - on Wednesday, December 11, in the Chamber of Deputies - of the Law allowing further development of the "Air Force Multirole Aircraft" program. It is the air operational capability contained in the Initial Transition Stage of the Concept for gradual development of air defense capability within this program.

Government of Romania is to grant the procurement contract to the Portuguese Government. Contract includes logistic support and training of engineering technical personnel.

First four aircraft will arrive in 2020, and the last one in 2021. They will join the 12 already F16 of the Romanian Air Forces, carrying out national air police missions. The five aircraft will have the same configuration as the 12 already equipped with the Romanian Air Force, respectively M.5.2R, and the package of goods and services includes modernization of all 17 F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Army to a higher configuration, respectively M .6.X.

Adoption of the legislative act provides the premises for the national defense industry to carry out maintenance work, major repairs to engines and modernization of F-16 aircraft to the M.6.X standard. Romanian Government will designate the national economic operator who will provide maintenance for this type of aircraft.

Romanian Ministry of National Defense thus continues procedures for modernization and purchase of military equipment, 2019 being the third year in which two percent of the GDP has been allocated for the defense. Romania is among the first NATO Member States that respect this requirement , which confirms it is a credible partner in both NATO and the EU.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei