US approval of sale Norwegian F-16s to Romania
On 30 June 2023, the US State Department made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Romania of equipment and services to modernise 32 F-16 Mid-Life Update Block 10/15 aircraft to be procured through third-party transfer from Norway.
Scramble Magazine first reported on 12 December 2021 on the possible sale of former Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons for use with the Fortele Aeriene ale Romanei (FAR, Romanian Air Force). On that date, the Romanian Ministry of National defence (MoD) sent a formal request to the Romanian Parliament to approve the procurement of the fighter aircraft. This request was approved by the Romanian Parliament and on 4 November 2022 the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) signed the contract with the Romanian Air Force for the sale of the F-16AM/BMs.
The contract is valued at 388 million Euros and includes spare parts, support equipment, maintenance and technical training service. Delivery of the first batch of Fighting Falcons is planned for late 2023 followed by a second one in 2024.
As the official announcement of the US State Department specifically mentions Block 10 and Block 15 aircraft, the following 34 former Norwegian Fighting Falcons must be part of the upcoming deal according to the Scramble Magazine database:
It has not been reported how many two-seat F-16s are involved in the Romanian programme.
Photo by Peder Mathisen