End of an Era: Romanian Air Force Bids Farewell to MiG-21 Fleet, Awaits Norwegian F-16

The Romanian Air Force marked the end of an era on May 15, 2023, by retiring its fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets, an aircraft that served faithfully for over half a century. Performing roles from air defense and ground attack to reconnaissance, these jets were an integral part of Romania’s defense strategy.

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W Rumuńskich Siłach Powietrznych (RoAF) kończy się pewna epoka. Dzisiaj na zasłużoną emeryturę przeszły słynne ???????? “ołówki”, czyli samoloty MiG-21 LanceR, które zostaną zastąpione pozyskanymi z ???????? i ???????? myśliwcami F-16. pic.twitter.com/jzJMOr0Ll1

— Conrad Ce (@conradce2) May 15, 2023

The Soviet-Era MiG-21: A Brief Overview

Introduced in the 1950s, the Soviet-origin MiG-21 was known for its agility, high-speed capabilities, and relative ease of operation and maintenance. Its affordability was another attractive feature that made it a popular choice among many countries, Romania included. The MiG-21 fleet served during the Cold War and saw action in international conflicts like the Vietnam War and the Yom Kippur War.

Romania’s first MiG-21s, acquired in the early 1960s, replaced the older MiG-15s and MiG-17s. Despite having been modernized during the 1990s with updated Israeli avionics and electronics, the LanceR are still MiG-21s with many years of life and many flight hours under their belts.

The last six MiG-21s were flown from the 86th and 71st AFBs to the 95th air base for long-term storage on May 15, 2023. This marked the last day of the MiG-21s’ service, following a decision made in April 2022.

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Romania suspends operation of its MiG-21 LanceR fighter jets

Transition to F-16MLU Squadrons

The disbandment of the two MiG-21 squadrons, the 861st and 711st, will give way to new F-16 squadrons. The Romanian Air Force has purchased 32 F-16 MLUs from Norway, a move that is aligned with their modernization strategy.

Norway sold 32 F-16MLU to Romania

Modernizing Romania’s Air Defense

The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) has 17 F-16 A/B fighter aircraft purchased second-hand from Portugal between 2016 and 2021. These aircraft were upgraded to MLU standard, in M5.2R configuration, which gives it similar capabilities to the F-16 Block 50/52.

The retirement of the MiG-21s signifies a significant shift for the Romanian Air Force. As these Cold War-era symbols step down, the F-16s will assume their place, providing Romania with a more contemporary and capable defense mechanism to deter aggression and safeguard its airspace.