European F-16 Training Center In Romania Officially Opens
The European F-16 Training Center in Romania was formally inaugurated on Monday, with the facility intended to provide training for Romanian and Ukrainian pilots for the F-16.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren, her Romanian counterpart Angel Tîlvăr, and Orlando Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group.
Ollongren referenced Ukrainian Air Force Major Andrii Pilshchykov in her speech, with “Juice” having been one of Ukraine’s leading advocates for Western nations to provide Ukraine with F-16s prior to his death in a midair collision during training in August. In a social media post after the ceremony, Kajsa said “It is partly thanks to his efforts that we can now train a new generation of pilot”.
The center, located at the Romanian Air Force’s 86th Air Base near the town of Fetești, is run as a collaboration between the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, the Romanian Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin has additionally subcontracted Daedalus Aviation Group, Draken International, ILIAS Solutions and Airbus Defence subsidiary GFD to organize, schedule, operate and maintain the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s to be operated by the center. The RNLAF delivered the first five F-16s to the center last week, with the Netherlands retaining ownership and maintaining its sovereign rights over them.
According to Lockheed Martin, GFD and Draken will provide “experienced F-16 instructor pilots with recent front-line experience flying F-16s in the U.S. Air Force and air forces throughout Europe”, while Daedalus will support Draken technicians in maintaining the F-16s and provide expertise in European Military Airworthiness Requirements compliance. ILIAS Solutions will be responsible for providing integrated defense software solutions for logistics and sustainment, training management and flight scheduling.
“The F-16 continues to play a crucial role in 21st Century Security missions for the United States, Europe, NATO and allies around the world,” said Orlando Sanchez in a statement. “Lockheed Martin is proud to partner with the Netherlands and Romania on this European F-16 Training Center, which will enhance mission readiness through a comprehensive F-16 training solution for Romanian pilots. The center will focus on ensuring effectiveness and safety of Romanians flying and operating F-16 fighter jets and could eventually expand to include training for other nations.
“Together, with our partners from Daedalus, Draken, GFD and ILIAS, we’re providing world-class training to enhance mission readiness and ensure safety of Romanians flying and operating F-16 fighter jets,” he added.