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F-16 fighters from the European F-16 Training Center in Fetești became the property of Romania

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 201
04.11.2025

The intergovernmental contract for Romania's acquisition of 18 F-16 aircraft from the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was signed on Monday, November 3rd, at the Ministry of National Defence headquarters.

The document was signed by Brigadier General Ion-Cornel Pleșa, Head of the General Directorate for Armaments of the Ministry of National Defence, and by Linda Ruseler, Director of the Movable Assets in the Ministry of Finance of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the presence of the Minister of National Defence, Liviu-Ionuț Moșteanu, and H.E. Willemijn van Haaften, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bucharest.

"I expressed my interest in this acquisition back in June, at the end of the NATO Summit in The Hague, when I signed, together with my Dutch counterpart, the Memorandum of Understanding on the extension of the functioning of the European F-16 Training Center in Romania - EFTC," Minister Moșteanu said.

"By signing this contract, we mark the completion of a significant stage in the center's activity, which proves Romania's commitment to providing a high-quality training environment. EFTC has turned our country into a European hub for all states that own or will own F-16s and we are considering expanding the training modules, as the F-35 program advances," the Minister of National Defence declared.

The Romanian official also appreciated that EFTC offers a unique capability in Europe and provides complete training program to the F-16 aircraft pilots and, at the same time, a framework in which instructors and pilots from several NATO countries train together, to the same standards, for the joint defence of the allied space.

"By continuing the center's activity, Romania reaffirms its strategic role in the Alliance's defence architecture, while also confirming its international commitments and actively contributing to strengthening the deterrence and collective defence capabilities. Our country reaffirms its commitment to support Ukraine, offering the Ukrainian pilots the possibility to be trained within the center and thus contributing, in a concrete way, to the common effort to strengthen regional security and to supporting Ukraine's efforts and sovereign right to defend itself," the Minister of National Defence concluded.

Ambassador van Haaften has stated that the Netherlands and Romania have a strong relationship and collaborate closely in the field of security and defence. "We are partners in NATO and cooperate for deterrence and security on the Eastern Flank. Both the Netherlands and Romania are dedicated partners to supporting Ukraine. The European F-16 Training Center is one of the examples of the excellent collaboration, which I personally experienced during my visits to the Air Base in Fetești," the Dutch official stated.

Finally, the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bucharest appreciated that the official handover of the 18 F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands to Romania marks an important step in the cooperation between the two countries. "This allows the continuation of the pilots' training at EFTC. I wish the pilots who fly them clear skies and safe landings. "

***

The signing of this contract represents an essential moment in the evolution of the European F-16 Training Center, emphasizing the intention of the Ministry of National Defence to maintain the operational facility in the coming years, considering both the need for Romanian pilots and those of the allied and partner states, compared to the rather limited training possibilities at international level.

The total purchase price of the 18 F-16 aircraft, according to the contract, is 1 EURO excluding VAT. To this adds the VAT payment, which amounts to 21 million EUROS, calculated on the declared value of the goods (aircraft and the logistics support package), of 100 million EUROS.

The F-16 aircraft, which are deployed to Fetești, will become the property of the Romanian state, being specifically intended for the training of pilots within the European F-16 Training Center, with the Romanian party having the obligation to ensure a number of training slots to the NATO and partner countries' pilots.

The Press Office