Third and fourth F-16 for Romanian Air Force upgraded and ready for delivery

On 27 January 2020, the ministers of defence from Portugal and Romania formally signed the contract for the sale of five additional F-16s to the Fortele Aeriene ale Romaniei (FAR, Romanian Air Force) at a total value of 130 million euros. The deal also included the technical conversion of the aircraft to Romanian specifications, the transfer of technical information and the setting up of maintenance in Romania.

The “new” aircraft will undergo modernisation at the OGMA facilities (Portugal) before their deliveries to Romania. The planned delivery schedule was two in June 2020, two in October 2020 and the last one in early 2021.

However, the first two Fighting Falcons were delivered two months later, in August 2020. These were F-16AM serial 1614 (ex Portugal 15132) and serial 1616 (ex Portugal 15135).

On 8 October 2020, the third aircraft was ready and departed the OGMA facilities at Alverca to Air Base No.5 Monte Real (Portugal). Number four was flown to Monte Real on 19 October 2020.

Both aircraft, fully modernised and painted in Romanian Air Force camouflage, will most probably be delivered soon to Romania. The aircraft have Romanian Air Force serials 1613 (ex Portugal 15122) and 1617 (ex Portugal 15141).

The fifth and last F-16 is planned to be delivered in the beginning of 2021 and will receive serial 1615 (ex Portugal 15134). After this final delivery, the Romanian Air Force has seventeen F-16s in it’s inventory, fourteen single seat aircraft and three dual seat aircraft. All Fighting Falcons are operated by Escadrila 53 Vanatoare Warhawks / Baza 86 Aeriana at Borcea/Fetesti (see the Romania Air Order of Battle).

Photo: OGMA