Three F-16s of the 32 purchased by Romania left the Rygge airbase near Oslo on Nov. 28 following upgrade and maintenance to prepare them for Romanian service.
The S-70M aircraft, built by PZL-Mielec in Poland, will be used for maritime and land search and rescue, firefighting, transport and medical emergency support.
The five aircraft touched down at the Fetești air base near Constanta, Romania, on Nov. 7, ahead of the formal opening of the European F-16 Training Center.
Romania’s air travel market continues to expand, with seat numbers on course this year to top 25 million for the first time. Low-cost carrier Wizz Air has been a key driver and its growth shows no signs of abating.