National News

Training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets begins in Romania

Nov 14, 2023

Budapest [Hungary], November 14: The training of Ukrainian pilots on US F-16 fighter jets has begun in Romania, Romania's Defence Minister Angel Tîlvar and his Dutch counterpart KajsaOllongren said on Monday. The two opened the European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) at the Borcea airbase near Fete?ti, 150 kilometres east of the capital Bucharest. The Netherlands is providing 12 to 18 fighter jets for the programme, in which Romanian pilots are also taking part. The first five F-16 aircraft from the Netherlands arrived in Romania a week ago. The F-16 manufacturer Lockheed is sending instructors and maintenance personnel. It is estimated that the pilot training will take at least six months. It is unclear when Ukraine will actually be able to deploy the combat aircraft in the war zone. Romania itself currently owns 17 used F-16 fighter jets that the country purchased from Portugal. These are to be modernised. Romania has also purchased 32 more second-hand F-16 jets from Norway.