A training centre to teach Ukrainian pilots how to fly F-16 fighter jets was officially opened in Romania on Monday, the 13th of November, reports Politico.
“The centre will serve as an international hub for training F-16 pilots, fostering greater mutual cooperation between allies,” the Romanian Ministry of Defence said. The inauguration ceremony took place at an air base east of Bucharest and was attended by Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tîlvăr and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren.
Five Dutch F-16s reached the Romanian training centre last week and the Dutch government plans to provide 12 to 18 aircraft for training purposes.
According to Politico, the Dutch government announced that these aircraft will initially conduct refresher training for contracted F-16 instructors, but that Romanian and Ukrainian pilots will be trained afterwards.
“The aircraft will only fly in NATO airspace,”
the Dutch government said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed that the training centre is an important and practical contribution to Ukraine’s aviation coalition.
Kyiv has consistently argued that it needs fighter jets to make significant military progress against Russia after the February 2022 invasion. Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium have expressed their readiness to supply Ukraine with US-made F-16s.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced that the first aircraft would be delivered by April 2024. Belgium has committed to deliver the fighters by 2025, subject to the approval of the next government after next year’s elections.
In October, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US, together with the Netherlands and Denmark, would train Ukrainian pilots and crew for use and maintenance of F-16 fighters. Lockheed Martin, the US fighter manufacturer, will be involved in providing training and maintenance support.
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