Ukrainian pilots begin F-16 flight training in Romania

• Romania’s F-16 training hub was inaugurated in November 2023 at its Fetesti air base.
• Practical training could start towards the end of the year.
• Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov praises the program, predicting more F-16s in Ukrainian skies.

This week, the first group of Ukrainian pilots began their F-16 fighter jet training at Romania’s regional hub, according to the NATO country’s defense ministry. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv has sought to strengthen its air force by requesting advanced military jets from the West and sending pilots to train in NATO countries, including France.

In November 2023, Romania inaugurated an F-16 training hub at its Fetesti air base and committed to training Ukrainian pilots there as well. Earlier this week, the first four Ukrainian pilots arrived and began their “theoretical training,” according to Romanian defense ministry spokesperson Constantin Spinu.

He noted that practical training could start “toward the end of the year.” Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov praised the program on social media, stating it would lead to “more F-16s in Ukrainian skies.”

The Fetesti hub, located about 150 kilometers outside the capital Bucharest, is part of Romania’s air base. It was inaugurated following an agreement with the Netherlands to provide several F-16s for training.

Lockheed Martin, the US-based manufacturer, maintains the planes and also provides the training. The Romanian army currently operates 26 F-16 jets, including 17 purchased from Portugal and nine from Norway. Norway is set to supply an additional 23 jets to Romania by the end of 2025.

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