The Romanian Army has officially announced the decision to suspend the flight activities with MiG-21 LanceR aircraft on the territory of Romania, the order being given by the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Daniel Petrescu, and the decision was based on the large incident of events and the accidents in which they were involved.
"Suspension of flight activities with MiG-21 LanceR aircraft.
MiG-21 LanceR aircraft belonging to the Romanian Air Force have been suspended from flying activities, starting today, by order of the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Daniel Petrescu.
The measure was taken in view of the considerable incidence of aviation events and accidents recorded during the operation of MiG-21 LanceR aircraft, resulting in several casualties and damaged or destroyed aircraft, in order to improve aviation safety and to prevent the occurrence of aviation events and accidents by reducing the risks associated with technical failures.
During the suspension of flight activities with the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft, the Romanian Air Force will continue to perform the Air Police Combat Service with the F-16 aircraft in the equipment, supported by the allied aircraft deployed in Romania, within the enhanced Air Police mission Air Policing) under NATO command. Also, the equipped ground-based defense systems will carry out Air Police missions under national command, as well as within the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense System (NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense System).
At the same time, measures were ordered to accelerate the steps to purchase the 32 F-16 aircraft from Novegia, which will constitute, in the next period, two more squadrons. The draft law approving this purchase has gone through the legislative transparency stage and is in the approval circuit, to be presented to the Romanian Parliament as soon as possible.
The available resource of aircraft within the three squadrons of multi-role F-16 aircraft, which will be operated by the Air Force, ensures their operation for a period of at least 10 years and will constitute a transitional air operational capability to the F-35 aircraft, of generation V."
