The handing over of F-16 AM/BM jets to Romania by Norway continues with another three units landing on the 28th of August at the 86th Air Base of Borcea.
The new fighter bombers will be assigned to the 571st Fighter Squadron of the 57th Air Base ‘Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino’, in Mihail Kogălniceanu.
The Romanian F-16 M6.5.2 program
The new lot of aircraft is part of a contract worth just under 400 million euros, signed by the Romanian Government with the Norwegian Government in 2021 for the acquisition of 32 Lockheed Martin F-16 M6.5.2 together with initial logistical support and a complementary package of materials and services provided by the United States Government.
So far, Norway has managed to deliver 21 aircraft, including 16 assigned to the 48th Fighter Squadron in Câmpia Turzii and five to the 571st Fighter Squadron in Mihail Kogălniceanu. The completion of F-16AM/BM deliveries is estimated by the end of 2025. These M6.5.2, capable of deploying JDAM guided bombs and AIM-120D AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles, are in addition to the M.5.2R ex-Portuguese and the F-16 from the Netherlands, practically transferred at zero cost, the latter used exclusively in the NATO regional training center for the use of Fighting Falcon.
Expected usage for at least a decade
The Norwegian aircraft, before being delivered, are revised and maintained by Kongsberg. The excellent condition these aircraft have been maintained during their years of service with the Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret allows them to be used for at least a decade by the Forțele Aeriene Române, after which they will be replaced by the F-35A Lightning II ordered from Lockheed Martin.
Source and photo credit @Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Romania
