The training of Romanian pilots on the F-16 aircraft is done only with the approval of the Parliament. The request was made by MApN
The Ministry of National Defense (MApN) requested, on Tuesday, December 16, the Parliament's prior approval for signing the Framework Agreement for pilot training on F-16 aircraft.
F16 plane PHOTO: Romanian Air Force
The framework agreement for the provision of flight personnel training services within the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) will be concluded with the Lockheed Martin company and is for a period of 60 months.
The estimated value of this Framework Agreement is 612.4 million dollars, excluding VAT.
On Tuesday, the assembled permanent offices sent the MApN request to the Parliamentary Committees for Defense in order to draw up the documentation, writes Agerpres.
“The current situation of providing the Romanian Army with military equipment requires the adoption of urgent, coherently applicable measures, which ensure the adaptation of the system of acquisitions of military equipment intended for the endowment to the new conditions of the security environment and allow the full fulfillment of the missions and obligations of the Romanian Army on a national and international level”, it is shown in the MApN request.
The document also states that on November 3, 2025, the contract for the transfer of ownership of the 18 aircraft deployed in Romania for the European F-16 Training Center at the 86th Borcea Air Base was concluded with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which stipulates the condition of maintaining the training capacity for the Ukrainian slots, starting in 2026.
“Starting on January 1, 2026, with the transfer of the 18 F-16 aircraft, the responsibility for the operation, management and functioning of the European F-16 Training Center will fall under Romania's attributions. Thus, for logistical and operational reasons, for the continuation of the training activity of F-16 pilots, on the national territory, within the European F-16 Training Center, the conclusion of the European F-16 Training Center was identified as a viable and sustainable solution The framework agreement with the Lockheed Martin company This framework agreement will cover the operation of the European F-16 Training Center, as well as on the part of integrated logistics services. Therefore, maintaining and expanding the activities of the EFTC is not only an immediate necessity for the training of F-16 pilots, but also a fundamental premise for safe transition and coherent towards the F-35, ensuring the continuity and performance of Romania's air capabilities in the next decade”, MApN also mentioned.
