14 February 2023: Romanian MiG-21s scrambled for weather balloon interception...

[Stratofreighter]

https://theaviationist.com/2023/02/14/m ... -airspace/

Two RoAF (Romanian Air Force) MiG-21 LanceR jets
were scrambled after the service’s surveillance system

detected an aerial object that looked like a weather balloon
flying in the Romania’s airspace,
the Romanian defence ministry said on Feb. 14, 2023, according to Reuters.

The two interceptors flew towards an area located in southeast Romania
around 10 minutes after the suspicious object was first detected but once there,
they could not confirm the presence of the balloon,
reportedly flying at an altitude of 11,000 metres.

The aircraft patrolled the area for about 30 minutes, before returning home.

https://theaviationist.com/2023/02/14/m ... -airspace/

[CBR]

Is it confirmed that these were MiG-21 Lancers and not F-16s? I believe the Romanian MiGs were retired last year ...

[Stratofreighter]

Is it confirmed that these were MiG-21 Lancers and not F-16s? I believe the Romanian MiGs were retired last year ...

Well, this official press statement by the Romanian Ministry of Defence is probably being referred to:
https://www.mapn.ro/cpresa/17799_Precizări-MApN

2023 is the year the Romanian MiG-21 Lancers are officially being retired, though...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/r ... to-the-air

The decision was made by Romania's Supreme Defense Council
with the aircraft slated to provide a narrow air policing mission
set during its one-year flying extension.

As it sits now, on May 15th, 2023, the MiG-21s will finally be removed from the Romanian Air Force's inventory.

https://romania.postsen.com/local/17575 ... F-16s.html

[Levente]

Is it confirmed that these were MiG-21 Lancers and not F-16s? I believe the Romanian MiGs were retired last year ...

They bought back the MiG jets, when the MOD realised, they dont have efficient numbers of F-16.

After a month of grounding, the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) resumed flights with MiG-21 LanceR fighters on May 23, 2022. It will continue operating them for another year until May 15, 2023.

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/3110 ... -21-return