Romania prepares Ukrainian border closest Air Base to Ukrainian F-16 arrivals.

We spoke to you a few days ago about the possibility of basing Ukrainian F-16s in NATO countries, and concurrently we learned that Romania has begun significant expansion and modernization of its ideally located air infrastructure, near the combat zone in Ukraine. However, the official reason given cites the threat from the east, which invites interpretation. Yet these monumental works on the scale of Romania are part of a desire to strengthen military capabilities.
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RAF Eurofighter Typhoon  on taxiway during air policing mission, Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base  (Picture source: Romanian Air force)

The Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, announced this decision on June 11 during a ceremony at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, located less than 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the Ukrainian border. This base is capable of accommodating F/A-18s as well as F-16s. The extension project for the military base, which has housed American capabilities and forces since 1999, was approved before the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. The reason for Romania's decision to expand its capabilities here is the result of Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008, and then Crimea in 2014. The plans have been approved since 2018 for this purpose, said Romanian Air Force Colonel Nicolae Cretu, commander of the base, during the NATO-led Ramstein Legacy exercise.

The work will involve the construction of a new runway, a guard tower, and additional hangars to protect existing and forthcoming military assets purchased by this Eastern European country. The official estimated that the cost associated with the expansion would amount to 2.5 billion euros.
It thus appears to be a strategic position for possible foreign F-16s that could operate from this base and maintain an interesting range despite the distance.

Romania has several ongoing acquisition programs, mainly focused on short and very short-range air defense systems, for which it plans to spend up to $2.1 billion.

It also received two additional Patriot batteries last year, now totaling four, and is participating in the joint purchase of up to 1,000 Patriot PAC-2 GEM-T missiles as part of the European Sky Shield initiative.

The location of the air base has proven highly strategic in recent years, both for Romania and its NATO allies. For example, the Romanian officer cited the base's value during the Iraq War, as it was used by allies to project forces outside their territories and over long distances.

Romanian media reported that the modernization effort involves constructing a military facility similar in size to the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, although the official did not confirm this aspiration.

Given its direct access to the Black Sea and proximity to Russian territory, the air base has hosted several enhanced air policing missions led by NATO, including this year's edition, which welcomed the first-ever deployment of a Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet.