Romanian Air Force takes delivery of its 7th Alenia C27J Spartan military airlifter

Posted On
a
World Defense & Security News - Romania
 
 
Romanian Air Force takes delivery of its 7th Alenia C27J Spartan military airlifter
 
The Romanian Air Force has taken delivery, on Monday January 12, of the seventh C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft, concluding the EUR 217 million contract with the Italian company Alenia Aermacchi. The contract was signed in 2006.
     
The Romanian Army has taken delivery, on Monday January 12, of the seventh C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft, concluding the EUR 217 million contract with the Italian company Alenia Aermacchi. The contract was signed in 2006.
Romanian Air Force's Alenia C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft
     
The ceremony took place on Otopeni Air Base 90 and was attended by Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Deputy PM Gabriel Oprea, Defence Minister Mircea Dusa and the new chief of staff General Nicolae Ciuca.

“I wish that during 2015 we will start the modernisation process of the helicopter fleet. There are investments Romanian needs to carry on in the technical endowment and especially in pilots’ and personnel’s practice. No aircraft or helicopter has value if it is not flown by well trained pilots and professional staff,” Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on the occasion, Agerpres informs.

Moreover, Romania intends to buy another squadron of F-16 fighter aircraft, Digi24 informs. A draft acquisition document is on the table of Defence Ministry specialists and is to be submitted to the government in the coming period. Meanwhile, six fighter planes from the already ordered squadron have been modernised and Romanian pilots have started flight training on it.

The new project aims at 12 fighter aircraft for the next years to come. "In order to meet the capacity negotiated in 2004 with NATO regarding the fighter planes, we need a multi-annual programme to set the condition for a second squadron," Minister of Defence Mircea Dusa said. Nothing has been agreed yet, regarding the country to deliver the planes or the budget alocatted for the acquisition, it all depends on the defence budget.

The current Romanian air fleet includes the first squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet bought from Portugal and the Mig-21 Lancer that can carry on missions until 2018. For the moment the Romanian Air Force is supported by NATO allies to defend the country's air space.