Letter of Intent on the European F-16 Training Center

 

As part of the official visit to The Hague, Minister Angel Tîlvăr signed on Thursday, December 12, together with his Dutch counterpart, Ruben Brekelmans, a Letter of Intent that reaffirms the two states’ commitment to strengthening and enhancing the future collaboration within the European F-16 Training Center in Romania.

The signed document reflects the common determination of Romania and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to support the training of the allied and partner states’ pilots in this modern center, which uses the eighteen F-16 aircraft provided by the Dutch side.

"Through this partnership, we demonstrate once again that investments in defence are essential for the security of the Black Sea region. The joint efforts of Romania, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the support of the Lockheed Martin Company represent a concrete example of collaboration with a view of consolidating defence capabilities. More than a year after rendering the Center operational, the results are clear: both the Romanian and Ukrainian pilots benefit from an advanced training program. We will continue to expand these activities, by directly contributing to the security of the national and allied airspace", Minister Angel Tîlvăr said.

The establishment of the European F-16 Training Center reflects Romania's commitment to provide a training environment at the highest standards, with access to state-of-the-art technical resources and expertise. The center is mainly intended for the training of Romanian pilots, but also offers training opportunities to allied and partner states’ pilots, as well as for the training of technical personnel. The first batch of Romanian pilots successfully completed the training program in July this year, while four Ukrainian pilots are currently being trained within the Center. Through this initiative, Romania actively contributes to the increase of regional security and the development of a sustainable partnership in the field of defence.

The Press Office