The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has signed a contract with Romania for the sale of 32 Norwegian F-16 aircraft.
The final agreement was signed on November 4, following months of negotiations and includes 32 aircraft along with spare parts and support equipment, as well as maintenance and technical training services.
Norway concluded the sale of 32 F-16s to Romania after selling 12 retired airframes to adversary air services provider Draken International in December 2021.
Earlier this year, Norway also signed a contract with Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) for work on overhauling the retired fighters ahead of their handover to the customers.
According to Norwegian defense ministry Romania should receive the first F-16 squadron in late 2023, with the second one following suit in 2024.
The November 4 contract includes maintenance and aircraft modification to bring the airframes to the Romanian M6.5.2 configuration with support from the United States.
“The agreement signed by the NDMA will help strengthen the air power of one of our allies, at the same time as it will generate revenues for both Norwegian industry and the Norwegian state,” said Norwegian defense minister Bjørn Arild Gram.
“I am very pleased that we have been able to finalize this agreement, which is Norway’s largest ever sale of government owned military equipment. Norwegian F-16s have been among the best maintained of their kind, with high technical standards throughout. I congratulate the negotiation teams of both countries for their efforts. Through this agreement, our F-16s will continue to serve one of our NATO-allies for several years to come,” said Gro Jære, director general of the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.
Norway is shedding its F-16s as it continues to receive more F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters. The delivery of three F-35A fighters to the Royal Norwegian Air Force this summer brought the country’s fleet of Lockheed Martin-built Joint Strike Fighters to 37, while a total of 40 units are scheduled to be delivered this year. Norway has 52 of the combat aircraft on order.
