First Pilots Trained At Romania’s European F-16 Training Center Graduate
The first batch of pilots trained at the European F-16 Training Center in Romania graduated on Friday, with a ceremony held on Friday to mark the milestone.
The Romanian Air Force pilots are the first batch of students to undergo training at the center, located at the Romanian Air Force’s 86th Air Base, with their courses beginning shortly after the opening of the center in November 2023.
In addition to representatives from Romania’s Air Force and government, the ceremony was also attended by Lockheed Martin Chief Operating Officer Frank St. John, who personally congratulated the pilots.
According to Lockheed Martin, the European F-16 Training Center now has 14 Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s used for training pilots, with the center successfully conducting night training missions and executing dissimilar air-to-air training exercises with other NATO air forces. The F-16 manufacturer is a partner in the training center’s operations, collaborating with the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, the Romanian Air Force, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
O.J. Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, stated, “This milestone enhances Romania’s air defense capabilities and mission readiness with our 21st Century Security training solutions. We appreciate Romania’s trust in us and are committed to supporting their pioneering efforts, including hosting the first European F-16 Training Center, which underscores their strategic importance within NATO and European defense.”
Classes for the latest intake started in early July, with the next intake currently planned to take place in September. Romania’s defense ministry has stated that only Romanian F-16 trainee pilots are being trained at the center for the time being.
While it is currently only training Romanian pilots, the Dutch government has indicated that the European F-16 Training Center will eventually train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16. As of writing, Ukrainian pilots earmarked for F-16 training are trained in Denmark and the United States, ahead of the delivery of the first F-16s pledged later this summer.