First F-16s delivered to EFTC

On 7 November 2023, the first former Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons were delivered to the new European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) at Baza 86 Aeriana Fetesti in Romania.

The EFTC will first use the F-16s for a refresher course for the hired F-16 instructors. The following F-16s departed Gosselies (Belgium) to Romania: F-16AM J-010, J-019, J-366 and F-16BM J-064 and J-210.

According to the information given by the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD), the aircraft will remain the property of the Netherlands. As can be seen on the photo, former Dutch unit markings have been removed. Only a toned-down Dutch roundel remains.

In September 2023, Scramble Magazine first reported on the new training centre. The Netherlands, Lockheed Martin and Romania signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to set up an F-16 Pilot Training Centre in Romania on 31 August 2023. The LoI comes after the US approved the re-export of the F-16s to Ukraine, which was closely followed by The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway pledging up to 61 aircraft to Kyiv. Belgium recently announced a possible delivery of F-16s to Ukraine.

The official opening of the new training centre will follow soon.

Credit photo: Dutch Ministry of Defence