The Romanian Air Force has taken delivery of three more F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft as part of an ongoing acquisition program with Norway.
The Romanian Air Force has taken delivery of three more F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft as part of an ongoing acquisition program with Norway.
The jets arrived at Cluj County and will be operated by the 48th Fighter Squadron at the Câmpia Turzii Air Base, where they will join 15 F-16s already delivered under the effort.
Bucharest signed the deal to procure the Scandinavian planes in June 2023 for $400 million to replace its aging MiG-21 jets developed by the Soviet Union.
The contract covers up to 32 of the fourth-generation aircraft, associated training, spare parts, and maintenance services.
Romania accepted the first tranche under this foreign military sale in December 2023.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the Fighting Falcon flies at over Mach 2 (1,535 miles/2,470 kilometers per hour) with a range of 2,277 nautical miles (2,620 miles/4,217 kilometers).
It can be armed with Gatling cannons, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, as well as laser-guided, unguided, cluster, and nuclear bombs.
Norwegian F-16B. Photo: Norwegian Air ForceThe aircraft is powered by a General Electric or Pratt & Whitney engine, depending on its version, with a 7,000-pound (3,175-kilogram) internal fuel capacity.
Users can fly the F-16 at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
The aircraft is operated by more than 20 nations, including its origin country the US.
