The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Romania of equipment and services to modernize thirty-two (32) F-16 Mid-Life Update Block 10/15 aircraft to be procured through third-party transfer from Norway. The equipment includes KY-58M and KIV-78 cryptographic devices for an estimated cost of $105 million. The proposed sale will improve Romania’s capability to meet current and future threats by bolstering its operational readiness while enhancing air and defense capabilities with a modernized fleet. Romania has F-16s in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft and equipment into its armed forces. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth, TX.
The Government of Romania has requested to buy equipment and services to modernize thirty-two (32) F-16 Mid-Life Update Block 10/15 aircraft to be procured through third-party transfer from Norway. The equipment includes KY-58M and KIV-78 cryptographic devices; AN/PYQ-10C Simple Key Loaders; Joint Mission Planning Systems; Night Vision Device (NVD) aviator vision systems and spare Image Intensifier Tubes; Electronic Warfare database support; Classified/Unclassified Computer Program Identification Number Systems (CPIN) and CPIN Electronic Combat International Security Assistance Program (ECISAP) equipment; other related elements of logistics and program support.
Romanian Air Force (RoAF) purchases 32 F-16 fighter jets from Norway for 454 million euros, with 354 million euros for the aircraft and 100 million euros for logistical support and specific modernization equipment from the U.S. government. Norway is shedding its F-16 fleet as it continues work on transitioning to the F-35. When selling the F-16 fleet the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) have worked to also secure opportunities for Norwegian industry. In this particular case, to supplement the NDMA sale of aircraft and equipment, Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services has been chosen as a strategic partner, delivering support, maintenance and training of Romanian technical personnel.
Romanian Air Force acquired five surplus Lockheed Martin F-16s from Portuguese Air Force and will upgrade the 12 examples of the fighter already in its fleet. The aircrafts that Portugal will sell to Romania will be modernized and updated at the Monte Real Air Base. Romania acquired the F-16 to replace its Warsaw Pact-era MiG-21 Fishbed fighters that were later upgraded by Israel to the Lancer standard. While the country builds up its new inventory it is being supported by NATO, which is flying air policing missions out of Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta on the Black Sea. This Southern Air Policing mission also includes Bulgarian airspace as that country too begins the process of replacing its ageing Warsaw Pact-era MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters with the F-16.
