Romania has initiated an agreement with the American company Lockheed Martin, worth over 600 million dollars, for the training of pilots who will operate F-16 aircraft.

The Ministry of National Defense (MApN) of Romania has initiated a framework agreement of 612.4 million dollars for the training of F-16 pilots, lasting 5 years. This agreement is essential for maintaining the training capacity of Romanian and Ukrainian pilots, in the context of the transfer of 18 F-16 aircraft from the Netherlands. Romania urgently needs 70 qualified pilots to meet NATO standards, currently having only two operational squadrons. The agreement will cover both training and maintenance of the aircraft, being a strategic solution to ensure the continuity of training activities. It is also expected that, after five years, the Romanian Air Forces will reach a minimum level of qualified pilots, but will still have a deficit. Starting in 2031, Romania will begin the transition to F-35 aircraft, making it necessary to maintain EFTC activities for an effective transition.