Lockheed Martin and the governments of Romania and the Netherlands have announced a Letter of Intent to establish the European F-16 Training Center in Romania. The center will focus on ensuring effectiveness and safety of Romanians flying and operating F-16 fighter jets and could eventually expand to include training for other nations. Lockheed Martin has supported F-16s worldwide for decades, with extensive experience in pilot and maintainer training. Aircrews from the Netherlands and Romania currently train with Lockheed Martin F-16 simulators, and this training center will support readiness through an affordable, efficient sequence of ground-based and flight training missions.
“The F-16 continues to play a crucial role in 21st Century Security missions for the United States, Europe, NATO and allies around the world. Lockheed Martin is proud to partner with the Netherlands and Romania on this European F-16 Training Center in Romania, which will enhance mission readiness through a comprehensive F-16 training solution for Romanian pilots. Once details are finalized, we are confident the training center will ultimately benefit Romania and other regional F-16 operators, including potentially Ukraine,,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Integrated Fighter Group.
There are hundreds of F-16s operating across Europe today, enabling multiple European countries, including Romania, to protect airspace and be part of a web of integrated NATO peacekeeping coverage. Lockheed Martin continues to work side by side with European operators to modernize the F-16 to remain ahead of the evolving threat. The F-16 is a strategic and valuable choice for many customers around the world seeking advanced fighter aircraft capabilities, regional and worldwide partnerships, and affordable lifecycle costs. More than 3,100 F-16s are operating today in 25 countries. The F-16 has flown an estimated 19.5 million flight hours and at least 13 million sorties. Today’s latest version, the Block 70/72, offers unparalleled capabilities and will be flown by six countries and counting.
The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. area. As of January 2022, Lockheed Martin employs approximately 115,000 employees worldwide, including about 60,000 engineers and scientists.Lockheed Martin is one of the largest companies in the aerospace, military support, security, and technologies industry. Half of the corporation’s annual sales are to the U.S. Department of Defense. Lockheed Martin is also a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
