Romanian president greenlights training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets within the country
F-16 fighter jet. Photo: Profimedia Images
The Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, agreed to allow Ukrainian F–16 pilots to receive training at the European F–16 Training Center (EFTC) at Feteşti Air Force Base. Additionally, he approved the transportation of certain weapons for Ukraine through Romanian territory.
Digi24 writes about it.
According to the newspaper, the president of Romania wrote to the parliament stating that he had granted permission for:
- military aid to be transported from Finland to Ukraine;
- 50 Ukrainian military personnel to receive training in Romania.
They also add that the issue should be considered at a meeting of the leaders of both chambers of the Romanian Parliament on Monday. Voting in the hall should take place at the next joint plenary session.
The publication notes that it is about training Ukrainians who will work with F-16 fighters at the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) at Feteshti Air Force Base. This is a newly created center; Romanian pilots have been training there since January.
According to Digi24 sources, Ukrainian pilots should arrive at the base in the summer.
For reference:
As you know, Ukrainian pilot training is already underway in some other countries. The Prime Minister of Denmark, one of the countries of the "aircraft coalition," expressed hope that the first F-16s will be in Ukrainian skies by summer.
In addition, at the end of September, the Air Force released a video about how pilots adapt to the F-16 in Ukraine. They master the control of American F-16 fighter jets with the help of a flight simulator.
According to the US Air Force, at the end of October, a "small number" of Ukrainian pilots began training in the 162nd Aviation Unit of the Arizona National Guard in "the basics of the F-16."
In November, the first F-16s for training pilots from Ukraine, which the Netherlands previously sent, arrived at the training center in Romania.
Also, CNN previously wrote that the first group of four Ukrainian pilots will complete F-16 training by the summer of 2024.
In a report published on March 11, The New York Times wrote that by the summer of this year, twelve Ukrainian pilots will be trained for combat missions on F-16 fighters. However, there will be a shortage of planes for all of them.
