The European F-16 Training Center (ETC) has opened in Romania at the 86th Fetesti Airbase, where Ukrainian pilots will be trained, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said.

“Exciting day as I, along with Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and United States Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec, inaugurated the F16 Training Center at 86th Fetesti Air Base! This milestone enhances bilateral cooperation, strengthens allied security, prepares Romanian pilots for the upcoming F16 fleet & gives support to Ukraine,” the minister said on X (Twitter).

Earlier, the Dutch Defense Ministry reported that five Dutch F-16 fighters will go to Romania, where a training center for training Ukrainian and Romanian pilots will soon open at the Fetești airbase. According to a report on the agency's website, the Netherlands took the initiative to create a center and provided 12 to 18 F-16 fighters for this purpose. The planes remain the property of the Netherlands.

Lockheed Martin will provide training and maintenance of the aircraft.

In October, head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, said that the first F-16 aircraft could arrive in the Ukrainian Air Force no earlier than the spring of 2024. Austin added that the United States would lead a coalition of countries that will help Ukraine recreate its own air force. According to him, Denmark and the Netherlands will also work on this in a coalition.

On August 30, it became known that an F-16 pilot training center will be established in Romania.