The Romanian MND provided a low-resolution image of the 16th F-16 acquired from Norway landing at the 71st Air Base at Campia Turzii. This event triggered the completion of the standing up of the Romanian Air Force's 48th Fighter Squadron. (Romanian MND)
The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) has completed the standing up of the 48th Fighter Squadron (FS) at its 71st Air Base at Campia Turzii in the northwest of the country, the Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced.
The milestone was triggered by the delivery of latest Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft acquired from the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RoNAF).
“On … 30 January, an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, purchased by Romania from the Kingdom of Norway, landed at the 71st ‘General Emanoil Ionescu' Air Base, in Campia Turzii, thus completing the 48th Fighter Squadron, consisting of 16 aircraft,” the MND said.
In November 2022 Romania awarded Norway the contract for the purchase of 32 F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) aircraft, with initial logistical support and a package of complementary goods and services from the United States. These 32 surplus Norwegian F-16AM/BM Block15 MLU aircraft were acquired in addition to 17 surplus Portuguese F-16AM/BM Block 15s (upgraded to the same MLU standard before delivery to Romania), the last of which was received in March 2021. A further 16 former Norwegian F-16s are now expected, which when added to those already received 17 surplus Portuguese aircraft will leave Romania with a fleet of 49 F-16s.
Besides the 48th FS at the 71st Air Base at Campia Turzii, the F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU is operated by the 53rd Fighter Squadron ‘Warhawks' and the 861st Combat Aviation Squadron at the 86th Air Base at Borcea-Fetesti in the southeast of Romania.
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