Summary and Key Points: Lockheed Martin's European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania has successfully graduated its first class of mission-ready F-16 pilots. Located at the Romanian Air Force 76th Air Base near Fetești, the center, supported by the Netherlands, trained seven Romanian pilots in advanced flight operations and tactics.

-Opened in November, the EFTC aims to enhance NATO's air defense capabilities by providing comprehensive training, including night missions and dissimilar air-to-air exercises.

-U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec praised the pilots and highlighted future plans to extend training to other regional allies, including Ukraine. Romania continues to modernize its air force with additional F-16 and F-35 acquisitions.

Romania Graduates First Class from Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Training Center

Last summer, aerospace giant Lockheed Martin announced it would establish the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania to enhance mission readiness throughout Europe by training Romanian pilots to fly and operate the F-16 Fighting Falcon to hopefully expand and include training for other nations.

The flight training facility, located at the Romanian Air Force 76th Air Base near Fete ti, Romania opened in November. The Netherlands, a fellow NATO member state, supported the EFTC by supplying fourteen F-16s to train Romanian and Ukrainian aviators.

Less than a year after the effort was first unveiled, Lockheed Martin acknowledged that the facility released its first batch of "mission-ready F-16 pilots." just last week.

"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," said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin.

According to defense contractors, the EFTC has seen its training capabilities expanded, and the Fighting Falcons have been employed in "night training missions and executing dissimilar air-to-air training exercises with allied NATO air forces." Seven Romanian pilots completed the program, while the second and third classes began in early July and were set for September of this year.

"I want to convey my hearty congratulations to the seven Romanian Air Force pilots who have successfully completed a demanding course of instruction over the past eight months, which included rigorous academics, simulator flights, mission planning, airborne missions, and much more," said U.S. Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec.

"Throughout this course of instruction, these pilots have learned not only to operate an advanced fighter jet but how to employ it as a team in formations while executing modern air-to-air and air-to-surface tactics," added Kavalec, who also stated, "We look forward to Romania opening up training to other regional allies and partners, especially Ukraine."

Guarding NATO's Southeastern Flank

Romania has looked to bolster its air force capabilities, replacing the Soviet-era MiG-21s with the far more advanced F-35 and F-16 fighters. In 2023, Romania had committed to acquiring thirty-two Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, with plans to add 16 more to form three full squadrons by the decade's end.

While the fifth-generation aircraft are set to arrive by the end of the decade, Romania will continue to operate refurbished F-16 Fighting Falcons acquired from its great northern NATO ally: Norway. Romania formally requested those second-hand Lockheed Martin-made fighters in 2021 and completed the order in 2023 in a deal worth $418 million.

The first batch of the Fighting Falcons landed in November and joined the seventeen F-16AM/BM fighters the Romanian Air Force already operated – purchased from Portugal. The remainder of the twenty-six fighter jets, along with parts and services, are set to be delivered by 2025.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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