Arrangement Includes Spares, Support Equipment and Training
After expressing initial interest last year in acquiring former Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s, and following months of negotiations, Romania has signed a formal contract to cover 32 aircraft, spares and support equipment plus maintenance and technical training services, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) announced on 4 November.
“The agreement signed by the NDMA will help strengthen the air power of one of our allies, at the same time as it will generate revenues for both Norwegian industry and the Norwegian state,” stated Norwegian Minister of Defence, Bjørn Arild Gram.
Emphasising the contract “is Norway’s largest ever sale of government-owned military equipment,” NDMA Director General, Gro Jære, added that “Norwegian F-16s have been among the best maintained of their kind, with high technical standards throughout. I congratulate the negotiation teams of both countries for their efforts. Through this agreement, our F-16s will continue to serve one of our NATO-allies for several years to come”.
Under the contract, all aircraft will undergo necessary maintenance and will be modified to the M6.5.2 Romanian configuration, with US support prior to delivery, currently scheduled for 2023-24. The work will be conducted by Norwegian industry, which also will provide training and other logistical services to support long-term availability of the aircraft. Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services has been contracted over the last two years to prepare the aircraft for resale and, subsequent to the NDMA announcement, confirmed that it expects to see an appropriate extension and expansion of the existing contract between the company and the NDMA.
“When selling the F-16 fleet we have worked to also secure opportunities for Norwegian industry. In this particular case, to supplement our 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,” Ms Jære pointed out.
