The construction works of the first taking-off/landing runway built by the MoND over the last 30 years were initiated

The beginning of the construction works of a new taking-off/landing runway at the 57th Air Base “Cãpitan Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino” from Mihail Kogãlniceanu was official marked in the presence of the Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvãr, on Tuesday, June 11th.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff , Lieutenant general Dragoș Dumitru Iacob, Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff, Major General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi, and the Chief of Domains and Infrastructure Directorate , Brigadier General Cristian Apostol.

At the end of this activity, Minister Tîlvãr emphasized the fact that the constant allocation for defence expenditures of a 2% of GDP, starting from 2017, which was increased to 2.5% this year, is starting to produce concrete effects, demonstrating the realism of the commitments undertaken by the Romanian Armed Forces to upgrade its the combat equipment and infrastructure.

"These investments will significantly improve the operational and training capabilities of the Romanian Air Force and those of the allies that will be hosted here, but will also significantly contribute to the economic development of local communities - the town of residence, Mihail Kogãlniceanu, but also the other administrative-territorial units in the neighborhood, by creating new jobs and attracting important investments for the entire Constanța County," said Minister Tîlvãr.

The Chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff, Major General Baraboi, stated that the project to expand the 57th Air Base will result in the first military capability and, at the same time, the first complete and complex element of airport infrastructure built by Romania after 1990.
"The expansion of the 57th Air Base represents an important step in Romania's efforts to adapt to the new realities of the current and future security environment and a major contribution to the consolidation of the role of a pillar of stability that our country has undertaken in the Black Sea region", Major General Baraboi stated.

The entire investment project for the modernization and expansion of the 57th Air Base "Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" from Mihail Kogãlniceanu amounts to approximately 12.173 billion lei, excluding VAT, and it is estimated to be completed in approximately 240 months from its approval, which was given in 2021. Finally, the surface of the base will measure about 2,800 hectares.

The Press Office