Airfield where Ukrainian pilots will train on F-16 fighter jets officially opens in Romania
The new European Training Center for F-16 fighters at the Fetesti military airbase in Romania was officially inaugurated on Nov. 13 by Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr and his Dutch counterpart, Kajsa Ollongren, reported DW.
Pilot training at the center, located 150 km east of Bucharest, will last at least six months, the publication wrote.
The Netherlands will provide between 12 and 18 fighter jets for training, serving both Ukrainian and Romanian pilots. The first five aircraft were sent to Romania by the Dutch authorities last week.
Lockheed, the company manufacturing the F-16, has also provided instructors and technical personnel for the training of Ukrainian pilots.
Romania announced on July 6 the opening of a regional training center for F-16 fighter pilots, accessible to its NATO allies and partners, including Ukraine.
The Netherlands and Denmark pledged on Aug. 20 to donate 61 aircraft to Ukraine –42 and 19 respectively. Later, Norway confirmed its intention to supply F-16s, and Belgium will transfer F-16s to Ukraine from 2025.
Experienced Ukrainian pilots will train to fly F-16s in the United States and Denmark, while younger pilots will train in the United Kingdom, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told NV in a Sept. 15 interview.
The training of Ukrainian pilots in the U.S. could last from five to nine months, Pentagon representative General Patrick Ryder announced on Oct. 31.
Ukrainian pilots have already started training on F-16s in the air with instructors, Ihnat confirmed on Nov. 10.
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