First F-16s for Escadrila 48 Vânătoare
On 19 April 2024, the Fortele Aeriene ale Romanei (FAR, Romanian Air Force) received an additional three former Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) F-16AM Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft. Fully painted in FAR colours, the three F-16s carried serials 1622, 1628, and 1629.
These fighters will operate under the recently re-established Escadrila 48 Vânătoare (48 Fighter Squadron), based at Câmpia Turzii Air Base.
In November 2023, the first former RNoAF F-16s were delivered to Romania and joined the seventeen F-16AM/BM fighters already in use with Escadrila 53 Vânătoare (53 Fighter Squadron) Warhawks at Fetesti Air Base.
In December 2021, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MoD) formally requested approval from the Romanian Parliament to procure the former RNoAF fighter aircraft. The request was granted, and on 4 November 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) signed the contract with the Romanian Air Force for the sale of the F-16AM/BMs.
On 30 June 2023, the US State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Romania for equipment and services to modernise 32 F-16 Mid-Life Update Block 10/15 aircraft, to be procured through third-party transfer from Norway.
The following F-16s have been delivered thus far:
All former RNoAF aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2025, bringing the FAR's total F-16 Fighting Falcons inventory to 49.
Credit photo: Romanian Air Force