The Dutch and Romanian governments signed the formal handover of the Netherland’s final F-16AM/BM Preventing Falcons to the Romanian Air Power for the symbolic value of €1.
The 18 former Dutch F-16s had already been obtained within the nation, flying for the European F-16 Coaching Middle (EFTC) used to coach each Romanian and Ukrainian pilots to function the plane for his or her respective air forces. Till in the present day, these F-16s had stayed below the auspices of the Royal Netherlands Air Power (RNLAF), who agreed to handover these jets two years in the past for the above objective.
Whereas, the Romanian Air Power (RoAF) elected to produce the Baza 86 Aeriana Fetesti air base together with additional host nation help. They’ve been supported by Lockheed Martin, supplying each plane maintainers and coaching workers for the brand new F-16 pilots, while Daedalus Aviation Group, Draken Worldwide, GFD, ILIAS Options, and BGI, LLC all acted as subcontractors.
🎊We signed the official handover of 18 F-16 fighter jets from 🇳🇱 to 🇷🇴, for coaching of pilots. We cooperate intently in safety and protection. We stand collectively @ the Japanese Flank. We work collectively in supporting Ukraine. #togetherweareNATO @Defensie @DutchMFA @IonutMosteanu pic.twitter.com/m2KmnFK9Ps
— NL in Romania 🇳🇱🇷🇴 / Amb Willemijn van Haaften (@NLinRomania) November 3, 2025
Dutch Minister for Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, had this to say: “The coaching heart is a textbook instance of profitable collaboration. We’re working with Romania and Lockheed Martin in a novel approach to prepare Romanian and Ukrainian pilots. It’s great that our former F-16s have been given a priceless new lease on life on the EFTC. The Ukrainian pilots educated listed here are already making a big contribution to defending their nation in opposition to the horrific Russian airstrikes.”
🇺🇦 Ukrainian F-16 pilot advised @United24media how he shot down six Russian missiles in a single fight mission — a primary in Ukraine’s air fight historical past. 💥#UkrainianAirForce #F16 #UkrainianPilots #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/K6BXVDtOWH
— Ukrainian Air Power (@KpsZSU) October 10, 2025
Ukraine obtained 24 ex-RNLAF F-16s between July 2024 and Could 2025, with the pilots educated on the EFTC alongside new Romanian Pilots. These plane have seen in depth motion since their first arrival, getting used for each offensive and defensive operations in opposition to the Russian Federation.
In truth, the jets noticed operations in Kursk the area, used for the supply of precision munitions in opposition to Russian targets, in addition to the shoot down of the Russian Su-35 air superiority fighter, presumably aided by a SAAB 340 airborne early warning and management plane.
Ukraine continues to coach its pilots on the EFTC as an increasing number of F-16s are delivered from its associate nations in Europe and overseas. Thus far, pledged F-16s to Ukraine embrace the above 24 from the Netherlands, 30 from Belgium, 19 from Denmark and 14 from Norway, for a complete of 87.Norway too has delivered all 14 F-16s to Ukraine, with the remainder of its previous fleet bought to the RoAF.
The switch of 18 plane to the RoAF is a big second, growing Ukraine’s reliance on its Carpathian associate, while additionally growing the dimensions of Romania’s whole F-16 power. The official switch paperwork for these 18 fighters had been signed on Nov. 3, 2025, in Bucharest by the Romanian chief of the Basic Directorate for Armaments, Brigadier Basic Ion Cornel Plesa, and Linda Ruseler, Director of the Movable Property Domains on the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
The primary RNLAF F-16s, a combination of single seater AMs and two seater BMs, arrived at Baza 86 on Nov. 7, 2025. Their first responsibility was to supply a refresher course for F-16 instructors, earlier than they could possibly be used to coach the Romanian and Ukrainian pilots for energetic service. The primary pilots graduated from the EFTC in July 2024, permitting for the primary deliveries of Ukraine’s new fighter jets.
Carpathian Vipers
The RoAF has targeted its modernisation upon the F-16, sourcing fighters from quite a few European states together with Portugal, Norway and now the Netherlands. The final 5 years have seen the beginning of the Carpathian Viper power and a sudden enhance in numbers, mandating the arrange of the EFTC to deal with the rise in plane and the necessity for pilots to crew them.
The RoAF first went to Portugal for a complete of 12 F-16AM/BMs, 9 single seaters and three twin seaters, which had been delivered between August 2020 and March 2021 below the Peace Carpathian One programme. These plane had apparently been bought second hand to Portugal from the US. A second deal, Peace Carpathian Two, was made in January 2020 with Portugal delivering an additional 5 plane to the RoAF.
In December 2021, a 3rd deal was made, this time with the Norwegian authorities, with a price of €452 million, for the supply of 32 F-16AM/BM plane below the Peace Carpathian Three Programme. These plane had been delivered between 2023 and 2024, quickly growing the dimensions of the RoAF, particularly given the retirement of a fleet of Mig-21 ‘LanceR’ fighters which had been in service from the mid Nineties till Could 2023.
The F-16AMs have thus far targeted on fast response alert (QRA) in Romanian air house, however are beginning to shift overseas to tackle air policing within the Baltic as part of their NATO commitments. Thus far the RoAF have accomplished deployments to Šiauliai, Lithuania, in March-July 2023 and March-June 2025, flying alongside Portuguese and Polish companions, respectively.
Flying with a blended load of each AIM-9X and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, they intercepted a wide range of Russian fighters, together with Su-27 Flankers, displaying how far the RoAF had are available in such a brief house of time. The final NATO air policing mission had taken place in 2007 with quite a few Mig-21s, however the F-16 permits the RoAF to get again on this sport on a stage that’s at parity with the Russian army.
The RoAF initially struggled sustaining QRA at house and NATO air policing overseas, however as the dimensions of the fighter power has elevated, this has allowed for extra flexibility in deployments. The way forward for the RoAF seems to be even brighter than hand me down plane from western Europe.
On Nov. 21, 2024, the Romanian authorities confirmed its intent to purchase 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A plane by means of a overseas army sale with the US. Romania formally grew to become the twentieth F-35 buyer, with first deliveries anticipated in 2031. The acquisition was valued at $6.5 billion and consists of extra than simply the plane, with logistical help for pilot coaching, flight simulators, and air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions included in the associated fee, marking a big defence funding.
The Romanian Military receives an enormous price range in 2024, a price range that exceeds 20 billion € for protection (virtually 45% larger than the quantities allotted in 2023).
Under are some ongoing applications (contracted):
• 32 x F-35 Lightning II (value $6.5 billion);
[1/16] pic.twitter.com/Zh9VC7EYJx
— Dragoș 🇷🇴 (@RomaniaU93389) January 9, 2024
Whether or not the RoAF will divest a few of its F-16s as soon as these plane are delivered is concept however, if all are stored on, it could make Romania a big participant in European air safety, rivaling the fighter fleet of Sweden and having extra fighters than the Netherlands, Belgium or Norway. Romania is definitely the one to look at on this new age of geopolitical pressure.
