Romanian Air Force F-16s delivered

In addition to our 25 October 2020 news item on the imminent delivery of two more Fortele Aeriene ale Romaniei (FAR, Romanian Air Force) F-16AMs, we can now report that both fighters, serials 1613 and 1617, were delivered via Aviano air base on Friday 30 October 2020.

So, still one aircraft (1615, ex Portugal 15134) needs to be delivered to complete the inventory of 17 aircraft, consisting of fourteen single seat aircraft and three dual seat aircraft.

The Romanian Air Force ordered the F-16s in two different batches. In 2013, Romania signed a contract with Portugal for the delivery of 12 Lockheed F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons. The first six Fighting Falcons entered service with the air force in October 2016, another three were delivered in December 2016 and the last three entered service in 2017. In 2019, Romania signed a contract with Portugal for another five F-16AM fighter aircraft.

All F-16s are operated by Escadrila 53 Vanatoare Warhawks / Baza 86 Aeriana at Borcea/Fetesti. It is good to give you an overview of the Romanian Air Force Fighting Falcon fleet:

F-16AM

1601                     ex POR 15121  Escadrila 53       M17-1/61-497          

1602                     ex POR 15123  Escadrila 53       M17-4/61-534          

1603                     ex POR 15124  Escadrila 53       M17-5/61-537          

1604                     ex POR 15125  Escadrila 53       M17-6/61-541          

1605                     ex POR 15126  Escadrila 53       M17-9/61-575          

1606                     ex POR 15127  Escadrila 53     M17-10/61-592          

1607                     ex POR 15128  Escadrila 53     M17-12/61-600          

1608                     ex POR 15129  Escadrila 53     M17-13/61-610          

1609                     ex POR 15130  Escadrila 53     M17-14/61-615          

1613                     ex POR 15122  Escadrila 53       M17-2/61-511          

1614                     ex POR 15132  Escadrila 53     M17-16/61-626          

1615                     ex POR 15134  on order            M17-18/61-630          

1616                     ex POR 15135  Escadrila 53     M17-19/61-633          

1617                     ex POR 15141  Escadrila 53       M17-8/61-658          

F-16BM

1610                     ex POR 15137  Escadrila 53        M18-1/62-91          

1611                     ex POR 15138  Escadrila 53       M18-2/62-117          

1612                     ex POR 15139  Escadrila 53       M18-3/62-118          

For detailed information on the Romanian Air Order of Battle please visit here.


Photos: Romanian Air Force

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