Romanian Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Romanian Air Force is the air force
branch of the Romanian Armed Forces
. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade. Reserve forces include two air bases and three airfields.
In 2010, the Romanian Air Force employed 9,700 personnel.
, in cooperation with Israel
between 1993 and 2002. Today, 48 of these MiG 21 LanceRs are operational . The Romanian Air Force also operates C-130 Hercules
, C-27J Spartan, An-26s transport planes and IAR-330 Puma
helicopters. IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT
helicopters have been modernized by the Romanian Aviation Industry
in cooperation with Elbit Systems
(Israel
) for attack missions. The Romanian Air Force also includes native-made IAR-99 Şoim
jet planes, in general only used for training of the young pilots. The remaining MiG-29s
have been removed from service in 2003.
Due to the old age of the MIGs, the Romanian Air Force is considering procurement of new fighters, or possibly used fighters as an interim solution. They will probably be replaced in 2012 when new fighter jets will arrive, such as the F-16, F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon
or Gripen. However, due to budgetary reasons, Romania's MiG-21s may still be in service for years longer.
In the spring of 2009, the Romanian government decided to purchase VSHORAD/SHORAD systems from France. The deal included Mistral MANPADS and MICA VL surface-to-air missiles. However, after preliminary talks with MBDA
in August, the deal was put on hold and canceled afterwards because of the defense cuts.
In February 2010, the Supreme Council of National Defense
signed an agreement with the United States for missile defense under whose terms land-based SM-3
systems would be installed in Romania. On the 3rd of May 2011, the president of Romania Traian Băsescu
announced the location for the SM-3 systems. They will be installed at the former Air Force base Deveselu
in Olt County
. The system includes 3 batteries with 24 SM-3 Block I rockets, manned by approximately 200 US soldiers (with a maximum of 500) under Romanian Air Force overall command.
The current chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff , succeeding General
Ion-Aurel Stanciu
on 7 January 2011, is Major General
Fănică Cârnu.
in Bucharest
.
, Romania acquired 322 aircraft from France
and Great Britain
including: Nieuport
fighters (types 11, 12, 19, 21, 23, and 28), Farman
reconnaissance and light bombing aircraft (types 40 and 46), and Breguet
-Michelin
heavy bombers. On September 16, 1916, a Romanian Farman F.40 shot down an Imperial German Air Force
aircraft near Slobozia
; this was the first victory in the history of the Romanian Air Force. By the end of World War I, Romanian pilots had achieved about 11,000 hours of flight and fought 750 air battles.
, the RoAF, second only to Poland
among the future Warsaw Pact
countries, had a powerful national aircraft industry which designed and produced all types of military and most civil aircraft. In particular the IAR 80
series were stressed-skin fighters, worthy to rank with the other single-seat fighters of WWII, and used in significant numbers on the Eastern Front
.
The RoAF was reorganized during an 18-year period. Over 2,000 military and civil aircraft were built in Romania, based on native or licensed designs. The military aviation used IAR 80 fighters, which became famous on the Eastern Front, and bombers manufactured by IAR
Braşov
. Messerschmitt Bf 109
and Heinkel He 112
fighters, Heinkel He 111
and Junkers Ju 88
bombers, Junkers Ju 87
dive bomber
, Junkers Ju 52
transport and Heinkel He 114
seaplanes were purchased from Germany
in the interwar period.
When Romania, allied with Nazi Germany
, went to war against the USSR, on June 22, 1941, the Romanian Air Force had 621 airplanes, including its native made fighter IAR 80/81
. The air force accomplished hundreds of missions, contributing to Romania's recapture of Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia
, which had been occupied by the Soviet Union
a year earlier. Until the Odessa
episode, the Romanian military fighters gained 661 air victories. Romanian Military Aviation fought on the Eastern front until August 22, 1944, bringing an important contribution to the great battles in Stalingrad, Crimea
, and the Ukrainian fronts.
Between 1941-1944 Romanian aircraft won 2,000 air victories. The most famous flying ace
s were Captain Prince Constantin Cantacuzino
, who gained 68 certified victories, Captain Horia Agarici
and Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu
, who shot down 60 enemy airplanes.
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Starting with 1948, Romania tailored its military to Soviet concepts and doctrine. On February 15, 1949, the Aviation Command was established based on the Soviet model (regiments instead of flotillas). New Soviet aircraft, such as Yakovlev Yak-18
, Polikarpov Po-2
, Lavochkin La-9
, Tupolev Tu-2
, and Ilyushin Il-10
entered service. A year later, 77 Yakovlev Yak-17
s and Yakovlev Yak-23
s entered the air force, and in 1952, other 88 aircraft: MiG-15
and MiG-17. In 1958, the first supersonic fighter MiG-19
entered the inventory. Three years later, in February 1962, a new fighter was added to the inventory, MiG-21
, which represented one of the most effective fighters of that time.
Starting with 1974, Romanian-made aircraft supplemented the already existing jets. The Romanian IAR-93
subsonic aircraft
flew its first flight on 31 October 1974. It represented a great step forward taking into account that it was the only jet fighter not made by the Soviets, the only one ever manufactured and operated by a Warsaw Pact
country.
In 1962, the first helicopter subunits were established and followed later on, in 1965, by the first Soviet Mi-2
and Mi-4
helicopters. Renewing the aircraft fleet process went on, the first 12 MiG-23s
entering the service between July-September 1979.
On 14 May 1981, at 20:16, Soviet spaceship
Soyuz-40 was launched from Baikonur
to perform a common Romanian-Soviet flight, with Lieutenant
Dumitru Prunariu
and Colonel
Leonid Popov
as commander on board. During the early 80's 67th Fighter-Bomber Regiment and 49th Fighter-Bomber Regiment from Craiova
and Ianca
were equipped with new IAR-93
attack aircraft which have replaced old MiG-15s and MiG-17s. In December 1989, just a few days before the Romanian revolution
against communism began, MiG-29 aircraft had entered the Air Force inventory.
, in Lithuania
for Baltic Air Policing
. The Romanian detachment succeeded the French Air Force
Mirage 2000Cs of Escadron de Chasse 01.012 from Cambrai
, which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007. Once the RoAF finished its three-month stint, a Portuguese Air Force
detachment took over the mission.
The four aircraft and most of the staff came from the 71st Air Base
. A total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, were part of the detachment: 63 served at Šiauliai, while other four served at the air traffic control centre in Kaunas
, to ensure smooth cooperation with local authorities. The Romanian detachment attracted attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it was only the second time a fighter from the Soviet era deployed to Šiauliai
- Polish Air Force
MiG-29s have also been deployed there in 2006.
attack helicopter belonging to the 90th Airlift Base
crashed in Ungheni
, near Piteşti
, Argeş County
. The aircraft was doing a night training mission at the moment of the crash.
The Romanian Air Force
Staff represents the military concept-developing, command and executive structure providing Air Forces peacetime, crisis and wartime leadership in order to reach, maintain and increase, as required, the operational level of the military subordinated structures so that to be able to operate under authorized commands responsible for military operations planning and conduct.
Generate, mobilize, structure, equip, operationalize and regenerate the required forces, provide the logistic support necessary to conduct military operation
s and based on higher orders, take over both the Joint Operation Air Component and independent air operations command and control, through the Main Air Operational Center.
Starting with July 1st 2010, the Romanian Air Force bases were renamed to Air Flotillas.
:
71st Air Flotilla
- Câmpia Turzii
86th Air Flotilla
- Feteşti
95th Air Flotilla
- Bacău
90th Airlift Flotilla
- Bucureşti - Otopeni
"Aurel Vlaicu" Flight School - Boboc (Buzau)
There are also 3 airfields included in the reserve forces.
1st SAM Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu"
- located near Bucharest
;
firing range
represents the Romanian Air Force structure specialized in providing the necessary facilities for firing training, execution and evaluation. It is located in Constanţa County
, 20 km north from the county capital, Constanţa
.
has the same colours like the Romanian flag. The innermost circle is blue, followed by yellow, and then red. It is placed on Romanian Armed Forces
vehicles and Romanian Air Force aircraft.
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
branch of the Romanian Armed Forces
Romanian Armed Forces
The Land Forces, Air Force and Naval Forces of Romania are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces...
. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade. Reserve forces include two air bases and three airfields.
In 2010, the Romanian Air Force employed 9,700 personnel.
Current state
The Romanian Air Force modernized 110 MiG 21 LanceRsMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
, in cooperation with Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
between 1993 and 2002. Today, 48 of these MiG 21 LanceRs are operational . The Romanian Air Force also operates C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, C-27J Spartan, An-26s transport planes and IAR-330 Puma
IAR 330
|-See also:-External links:*...
helicopters. IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT
IAR 330
|-See also:-External links:*...
helicopters have been modernized by the Romanian Aviation Industry
Industria Aeronautica Româna
Industria Aeronautică Română or Romanian Aeronautic Industry in English, is a Romanian aerospace manufacturer founded in 1925. Based in Ghimbav, near Braşov, Romania, the company employs around 1200 specialists including more than 170 engineers...
in cooperation with Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems
Elbit Systems Ltd. is one of the world's largest defense electronics manufacturers and integrators. Established in 1967, and based in Haifa, Israel, Elbit employs 11,000 people worldwide....
(Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) for attack missions. The Romanian Air Force also includes native-made IAR-99 Şoim
IAR 99
-References:* "Romanian Falcon". Air International, September 1990, Vol 39 No. 3. pp. 129–133.-External links:**...
jet planes, in general only used for training of the young pilots. The remaining MiG-29s
Mikoyan MiG-29
The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
have been removed from service in 2003.
Due to the old age of the MIGs, the Romanian Air Force is considering procurement of new fighters, or possibly used fighters as an interim solution. They will probably be replaced in 2012 when new fighter jets will arrive, such as the F-16, F/A-18, Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
or Gripen. However, due to budgetary reasons, Romania's MiG-21s may still be in service for years longer.
In the spring of 2009, the Romanian government decided to purchase VSHORAD/SHORAD systems from France. The deal included Mistral MANPADS and MICA VL surface-to-air missiles. However, after preliminary talks with MBDA
MBDA
MBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
in August, the deal was put on hold and canceled afterwards because of the defense cuts.
In February 2010, the Supreme Council of National Defense
Supreme Council of National Defense (Romania)
The Supreme Council of National Defense is the autonomous administrative authority in Romania, invested by the Constitution with the task of organizing coordinating, in a unitary fashion, the activities related to the defense of the country and national security.-Control:The activity of the...
signed an agreement with the United States for missile defense under whose terms land-based SM-3
RIM-161 Standard Missile 3
The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 is a ship-based missile system used by the US Navy to intercept short-to intermediate-range ballistic missiles as a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Although primarily designed as an anti-ballistic missile, the SM-3 has also been employed in an...
systems would be installed in Romania. On the 3rd of May 2011, the president of Romania Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
announced the location for the SM-3 systems. They will be installed at the former Air Force base Deveselu
Deveselu
Deveselu is a commune in Olt County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Comanca and Deveselu....
in Olt County
Olt County
Olt is a county of Romania, in the historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia . The capital city is Slatina.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 489,274 and the population density was 89/km²....
. The system includes 3 batteries with 24 SM-3 Block I rockets, manned by approximately 200 US soldiers (with a maximum of 500) under Romanian Air Force overall command.
The current chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff , succeeding General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Ion-Aurel Stanciu
Ion-Aurel Stanciu
General Ion-Aurel Stanciu was the chief of the Romanian Air Force Staff from 17 February 2009 to 7 January 2011. He graduated the Aurel Vlaicu Flight School in 1977 and the Military Academy in 1986. He assumed office following the discharge of Lieutenant General Constantin Croitoru...
on 7 January 2011, is Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Fănică Cârnu.
History
Beginnings
Romania was one of the first countries in the world to have an air force, starting with 1913. In 1912, the Romanian Air Force commissioned 10 Vlaicu I aircraft, built by Aurel VlaicuAurel Vlaicu
Aurel Vlaicu was a Romanian engineer, inventor, airplane constructor and early pilot.-Biography:Aurel Vlaicu was born in Binţinţi , Geoagiu, Transylvania. He attended Calvinist High School in Orăştie and took his Baccalaureate in Sibiu in 1902...
in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
.
World War I
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Romania acquired 322 aircraft from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
including: Nieuport
Nieuport
Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
fighters (types 11, 12, 19, 21, 23, and 28), Farman
Farman
Farman Aviation Works was an aeronautic enterprise founded and run by the brothers; Richard, Henri, and Maurice Farman. They designed and constructed aircraft and engines from 1908 until 1936; during the French nationalization and rationalization of its aerospace industry, Farman's assets were...
reconnaissance and light bombing aircraft (types 40 and 46), and Breguet
Société Anonyme des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Breguet
The Société des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Bréguet also known as Breguet Aviation was a former French aircraft manufacturer. The company was set up in 1911 by aviation pioneer Louis Charles Breguet....
-Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
heavy bombers. On September 16, 1916, a Romanian Farman F.40 shot down an Imperial German Air Force
Luftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
aircraft near Slobozia
Slobozia
Slobozia is the capital city of Ialomiţa County, Romania, with a population of 52,710 in 2002.-Geography:Slobozia lies roughly in the middle of the county, on the banks of Ialomita River, at ca. east of Bucharest and west of Constanţa, important port at the Black Sea...
; this was the first victory in the history of the Romanian Air Force. By the end of World War I, Romanian pilots had achieved about 11,000 hours of flight and fought 750 air battles.
Golden Age
During the interwar periodInterwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, the RoAF, second only to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
among the future Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
countries, had a powerful national aircraft industry which designed and produced all types of military and most civil aircraft. In particular the IAR 80
IAR 80
The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II low-wing, monoplane, all-metal construction fighter aircraft and ground-attack aircraft. When it first flew, in 1939, it was comparable to most contemporary designs like the German Bf 109E, the British Hawker Hurricane, and the Supermarine Spitfire...
series were stressed-skin fighters, worthy to rank with the other single-seat fighters of WWII, and used in significant numbers on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
.
The RoAF was reorganized during an 18-year period. Over 2,000 military and civil aircraft were built in Romania, based on native or licensed designs. The military aviation used IAR 80 fighters, which became famous on the Eastern Front, and bombers manufactured by IAR
IAR
IAR may refer to:*IAR Systems, an embedded system technology company*A former stock market ticker for Idearc Media, a communications company*"Ignore all rules", a self-contradictory rule*Industria Aeronautică Română , an aerospace manufacturer...
Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
. Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
and Heinkel He 112
Heinkel He 112
The Heinkel He 112 was a fighter aircraft designed by Walter and Siegfried Günter. It was one of four aircraft designed to compete for the Luftwaffes 1933 fighter contract, which was eventually won by the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
fighters, Heinkel He 111
Heinkel He 111
The Heinkel He 111 was a German aircraft designed by Siegfried and Walter Günter in the early 1930s in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Often described as a "Wolf in sheep's clothing", it masqueraded as a transport aircraft, but its purpose was to provide the Luftwaffe with a fast medium...
and Junkers Ju 88
Junkers Ju 88
The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
bombers, Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
dive bomber
Dive bomber
A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target reduces the distance the bomb has to fall, which is the primary factor in determining the accuracy of the drop...
, Junkers Ju 52
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
transport and Heinkel He 114
Heinkel He 114
-See also:-Bibliography:* Donald, David, ed. Warplanes of the Luftwaffe. London: Aerospace, 1994. ISBN 1-874023-56-5.* Smith J. R. and Kay, Anthony. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1972. ISBN 0-370-00024-2....
seaplanes were purchased from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in the interwar period.
World War II
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, went to war against the USSR, on June 22, 1941, the Romanian Air Force had 621 airplanes, including its native made fighter IAR 80/81
IAR 80
The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II low-wing, monoplane, all-metal construction fighter aircraft and ground-attack aircraft. When it first flew, in 1939, it was comparable to most contemporary designs like the German Bf 109E, the British Hawker Hurricane, and the Supermarine Spitfire...
. The air force accomplished hundreds of missions, contributing to Romania's recapture of Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
, which had been occupied by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
a year earlier. Until the Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
episode, the Romanian military fighters gained 661 air victories. Romanian Military Aviation fought on the Eastern front until August 22, 1944, bringing an important contribution to the great battles in Stalingrad, Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, and the Ukrainian fronts.
Between 1941-1944 Romanian aircraft won 2,000 air victories. The most famous flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
s were Captain Prince Constantin Cantacuzino
Constantin Cantacuzino (aviator)
Constantin Cantacuzino was a Romanian aviator, one of his country's leading World War II fighter aces, and a member of the Cantacuzino family.-World War II:...
, who gained 68 certified victories, Captain Horia Agarici
Horia Agarici
Captain Horia Agarici was a Romanian aviator and World War II flying ace.Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Agarici lived much of his youth in Iaşi, then attended flying schools in Bucharest and Tecuci , becoming a bomber pilot in the Romanian Air Force...
and Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu
Alexandru Serbanescu
Alexandru "Alecu" Şerbănescu was a leading Romanian fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II. In the spring of 1942 he was assigned as a pilot to the 7th Fighter Group, which fought with the German forces against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front, including Stalingrad...
, who shot down 60 enemy airplanes.
Cold War
Yakovlev Yak-18
|-See also:-External links:*...
, Polikarpov Po-2
Polikarpov Po-2
The Polikarpov Po-2 served as a general-purpose Soviet biplane, nicknamed Kukuruznik for maize; thus, 'maize duster' or 'crop duster'), NATO reporting name "Mule"...
, Lavochkin La-9
Lavochkin La-9
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. Lavochkin's Piston-Engined Fighters . Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-85780-151-2....
, Tupolev Tu-2
Tupolev Tu-2
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of WWII: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,500 Weapons Systems, Including Tanks, Small Arms, Warplanes, Artillery, Ships, and Submarines. New York: Sterling, 2002. ISBN 1-58663-762-2.* Ethell, Jeffrey L. Aircraft...
, and Ilyushin Il-10
Ilyushin Il-10
Ilyushin Il-10 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau...
entered service. A year later, 77 Yakovlev Yak-17
Yakovlev Yak-17
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. "Early Soviet Jet Fighters". Hinkley: Midland. 2002. ISBN 1-85780-139-3* Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1...
s and Yakovlev Yak-23
Yakovlev Yak-23
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. "Early Soviet Jet Fighters". Hinkley: Midland. 2002. ISBN 1-85780-139-3* Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1...
s entered the air force, and in 1952, other 88 aircraft: MiG-15
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
and MiG-17. In 1958, the first supersonic fighter MiG-19
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 is a Soviet second-generation, single-seat, twin jet-engined fighter aircraft. It was the first Soviet production aircraft capable of supersonic speeds in level flight. A comparable U.S...
entered the inventory. Three years later, in February 1962, a new fighter was added to the inventory, MiG-21
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
, which represented one of the most effective fighters of that time.
Starting with 1974, Romanian-made aircraft supplemented the already existing jets. The Romanian IAR-93
IAR-93
IAR-93 "Vultur" is a twin-engine, subsonic, close support, ground attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft with secondary capability as low level interceptor, built as single-seat main attack version or combat capable two-seat version for advanced flying and weapon training...
subsonic aircraft
Subsonic aircraft
A subsonic aircraft is an aircraft with a maximum speed less than the speed of sound ....
flew its first flight on 31 October 1974. It represented a great step forward taking into account that it was the only jet fighter not made by the Soviets, the only one ever manufactured and operated by a Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
country.
In 1962, the first helicopter subunits were established and followed later on, in 1965, by the first Soviet Mi-2
Mil Mi-2
The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
and Mi-4
Mil Mi-4
The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles.-Design and development:...
helicopters. Renewing the aircraft fleet process went on, the first 12 MiG-23s
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
entering the service between July-September 1979.
On 14 May 1981, at 20:16, Soviet spaceship
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
Soyuz-40 was launched from Baikonur
Baikonur
Baikonur , formerly known as Leninsk, is a city in Kyzylorda Province of Kazakhstan, rented and administered by the Russian Federation. It was constructed to service the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was officially renamed Baikonur by Russian president Boris Yeltsin on December 20, 1995.The shape of the...
to perform a common Romanian-Soviet flight, with Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Dumitru Prunariu
Dumitru Prunariu
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu is a retired Romanian astronaut who flew aboard Soyuz 40.-Early life and career:Born on September 27, 1952 in Braşov, Romania, Prunariu graduated from the Physics and Mathematics high school in Braşov in 1971 and from the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest in 1976,...
and Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Leonid Popov
Leonid Popov
Leonid Ivanovich Popov is a former Soviet cosmonaut.Popov was born in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. He was selected as a cosmonaut on April 27, 1970, and flew as Commander on Soyuz 35, Soyuz 40 and Soyuz T-7, logging 200 days, 14 hours, and 45 minutes in space before his...
as commander on board. During the early 80's 67th Fighter-Bomber Regiment and 49th Fighter-Bomber Regiment from Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
and Ianca
Ianca
Ianca is a town in Brăila County, Romania. At the 2002 census, the town had a population of 12,886 people, making it Brăila County's second-largest urban locality.-Administration:...
were equipped with new IAR-93
IAR-93
IAR-93 "Vultur" is a twin-engine, subsonic, close support, ground attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft with secondary capability as low level interceptor, built as single-seat main attack version or combat capable two-seat version for advanced flying and weapon training...
attack aircraft which have replaced old MiG-15s and MiG-17s. In December 1989, just a few days before the Romanian revolution
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
against communism began, MiG-29 aircraft had entered the Air Force inventory.
2007 Baltic Air Policing
Four MiG-21 LanceR Cs were deployed from August 2007 to November 2007 at ŠiauliaiŠiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
, in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
for Baltic Air Policing
Baltic Air Policing
The Baltic air-policing mission is a NATO air defence Quick Reaction Alert in order to guard the airspace over the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.-Mission:...
. The Romanian detachment succeeded the French Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
Mirage 2000Cs of Escadron de Chasse 01.012 from Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007. Once the RoAF finished its three-month stint, a Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
detachment took over the mission.
The four aircraft and most of the staff came from the 71st Air Base
RoAF 71st Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base is located near the town of Câmpia Turzii, in Cluj County. The 71st Airbase was founded on the 1st of June 2002, according to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganization program....
. A total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, were part of the detachment: 63 served at Šiauliai, while other four served at the air traffic control centre in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, to ensure smooth cooperation with local authorities. The Romanian detachment attracted attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it was only the second time a fighter from the Soviet era deployed to Šiauliai
Šiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
- Polish Air Force
Polish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
MiG-29s have also been deployed there in 2006.
2007 Romanian Air Force IAR-330 SOCAT crash
Three people were killed on November 7, 2007, when an IAR-330 Puma SOCATIAR 330
|-See also:-External links:*...
attack helicopter belonging to the 90th Airlift Base
RoAF 90th Airlift Base
The Romanian Air Force 90th Airlift Base is located at the Henri Coandă International Airport, near Bucharest. In 1949, the 49th Transport Group was the first unit to be settled at Otopeni airfield. Later, in 1971, a special squadron was commissioned here and after few years this squadron became...
crashed in Ungheni
Ungheni, Arges
Ungheni is a commune in the southwestern part of Argeş County, Romania. It is composed of six villages: Colţu, Găujani, Goia, Humele, Satu Nou and Ungheni....
, near Piteşti
Pitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
, Argeş County
Arges County
Argeș is a county of Romania, in Wallachia, with the capital city at Pitești.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 652,625 and the population density was 95/km².*Romanians – 96%*Roma , and other.-Geography:...
. The aircraft was doing a night training mission at the moment of the crash.
Air Force Staff
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
Staff represents the military concept-developing, command and executive structure providing Air Forces peacetime, crisis and wartime leadership in order to reach, maintain and increase, as required, the operational level of the military subordinated structures so that to be able to operate under authorized commands responsible for military operations planning and conduct.
Generate, mobilize, structure, equip, operationalize and regenerate the required forces, provide the logistic support necessary to conduct military operation
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
s and based on higher orders, take over both the Joint Operation Air Component and independent air operations command and control, through the Main Air Operational Center.
Starting with July 1st 2010, the Romanian Air Force bases were renamed to Air Flotillas.
Air bases
The Romanian Air Force has 5 active air basesAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
:
71st Air FlotillaRoAF 71st Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base is located near the town of Câmpia Turzii, in Cluj County. The 71st Airbase was founded on the 1st of June 2002, according to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganization program....
- Câmpia Turzii
Câmpia Turzii
Câmpia Turzii is a city in Cluj County, Romania, which was formed in 1925 by the union of two villages, Ghiriş and Sâncrai...
- 711th FighterFighter aircraftA fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
SquadronSquadron (aviation)A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
- operating MiG-21 LanceR A, B; - 712th Fighter Squadron - operating MiG-21 LanceR B, C;
- 713th HelicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
SquadronSquadron (aviation)A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
- operating IAR-330LIAR 330|-See also:-External links:*...
; - 714th Helicopter Squadron - operating IAR-330L (located at Timisoara Airport - former 93rd Air baseRoAF 93rd Air BaseThe Romanian Air Force 93rd Air Base was an air base located near Timişoara at the Traian Vuia International Airport. The base was disbanded in August 2004 due to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganisation program and the retirement of the MiG-23s which were based here.The military sector of the...
);
86th Air FlotillaRoAF 86th Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 86th Air Base is located near the town of Feteşti, Ialomiţa County. It is currently the home of the 861st, 862nd Fighter squadrons and of the 863rd Helicopter squadron - located at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport .Since 1997, at the 86th Air base, a squadron has begun...
- Feteşti
Fetesti
Feteşti is a city and municipality in Ialomiţa County, Romania, with a population of 34,076. It is located in the Bărăgan plain, on the Borcea branch of the Danube. Feteşti has the second largest population in Ialomiţa, after Slobozia....
- 861st Fighter Squadron - operating MiG-21 LanceR B, C;
- 862nd Fighter Squadron - operating MiG-21 LanceR A, B;
- 863rd Helicopter Squadron - operating IAR-330LIAR 330|-See also:-External links:*...
(located at Mihail Kogălniceanu AirportMihail Kogalniceanu International AirportMihail Kogălniceanu Airport is situated in south-east Romania, in the commune of Mihail Kogălniceanu, north northwest of Constanţa. It is the main airport of Dobrogea region and it provides access to the Constanţa County, the Constanţa city port and Black Sea Romanian resorts...
- former 57th Air BaseRoAF 57th Air BaseThe Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base was an air base located near Constanţa, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport...
);
95th Air FlotillaRoAF 95th Air Base
The Romanian Air Force 95th Air Base Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu is located near the city of Bacău, in Bacău County....
- Bacău
Bacau
Bacău is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. It covers a land surface of 43 km², and, as of January 1, 2009, has an estimated population of 177,087. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistriţa River...
- 951st Fighter Squadron - operating MiG-21 LanceR A, B;
- 205th School Fighter Squadron - operating MiG-21 LanceR A, B;
- 952nd Helicopter Squadron - operating IAR-330L;
- 904th Attack Helicopter Squadron - operating IAR-330 SOCATIAR 330|-See also:-External links:*...
; - 905th Attack Helicopter Squadron - operating IAR-330 SOCAT;
90th Airlift FlotillaRoAF 90th Airlift Base
The Romanian Air Force 90th Airlift Base is located at the Henri Coandă International Airport, near Bucharest. In 1949, the 49th Transport Group was the first unit to be settled at Otopeni airfield. Later, in 1971, a special squadron was commissioned here and after few years this squadron became...
- Bucureşti - Otopeni
Otopeni
Otopeni is a town in Ilfov County, Romania, some north of Bucharest along the road to Ploieşti. It has 10,215 inhabitants, of which 99.0% are Romanians. One village, Odăile, is administered by the town....
- 901st Strategic Transport Squadron - operating C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
B,H; - 902nd Transport and Reconnaissance Squadron - operating An-26, An-30 and C-27J Spartan;
- 903rd Transport Helicopter Squadron - operating IAR-330L;
"Aurel Vlaicu" Flight School - Boboc (Buzau)
- 201st School Squadron - operating Yakovlev Yak-52;
- 202nd School Squadron - operated Antonov An-2Antonov An-2The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
until July 2010; - 203rd School Squadron - operating IAR-99 Standard;
- 204th School Squadron - operating IAR-99 Soim;
- 206th School Squadron - operating IAR-316B Alouette III;
Reserve air bases
- ConstanţaConstantaConstanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
- Mihail Kogălniceanu AirportMihail Kogalniceanu International AirportMihail Kogălniceanu Airport is situated in south-east Romania, in the commune of Mihail Kogălniceanu, north northwest of Constanţa. It is the main airport of Dobrogea region and it provides access to the Constanţa County, the Constanţa city port and Black Sea Romanian resorts...
- 57th Air BaseRoAF 57th Air BaseThe Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base was an air base located near Constanţa, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport... - TimişoaraTimisoaraTimișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
- Giarmata AirportTraian Vuia International AirportTimişoara "Traian Vuia" International is Romania's third largest airport in terms of air traffic, after Bucharest Henri Coandă and Bucharest Aurel Vlaicu Airport and the main air transportation hub for the western part of Romania. It is located in Timişoara, in the region of Banat, near the...
- 93rd Air BaseRoAF 93rd Air BaseThe Romanian Air Force 93rd Air Base was an air base located near Timişoara at the Traian Vuia International Airport. The base was disbanded in August 2004 due to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganisation program and the retirement of the MiG-23s which were based here.The military sector of the...
There are also 3 airfields included in the reserve forces.
Units
1st SAM Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu"
1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade (Romania)
The 1st Surface to Air Missiles Brigade "General Nicolae Dăscălescu" , is the main air defense unit of the Romanian Air Force. Its headquarters are located in Bucharest. The brigade was created on August 1, 1973, by gathering together the 18th and 19th SAM regiments. In 1995, it received the...
- located near Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
;
11th SAM Regiment "Horea" - located near BraşovBrasovBrașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....- 70th Aviation Engineer Regiment - Bucharest
- 85th Signal Battalion - Curtea de ArgeşCurtea de ArgesCurtea de Argeș is a city in Romania on the right bank of the Argeş River, where it flows through a valley of the lower Carpathians , on the railway from Pitești to the Turnu Roşu Pass. It is part of Argeș County. The city administers one village, Noapteș...
Capu Midia range
The Capu Midia training camp and surface to airSurface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
firing range
Shooting range
A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...
represents the Romanian Air Force structure specialized in providing the necessary facilities for firing training, execution and evaluation. It is located in Constanţa County
Constanta County
Constanța is the name of a county in the Dobruja region of Romania. Its capital city is also named Constanța.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 715,151 and the population density was 101/km². The degree of urbanization is much higher than the Romanian average. In recent years the...
, 20 km north from the county capital, Constanţa
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
.
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Photo | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-wing Aircraft | ||||||
| MiG-21 LanceR Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to... |
Fighter Aircraft Fighter aircraft A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets... |
MiG-21 LanceR A | 49 | ground attack | ||
| Trainer Aircraft | MiG-21 LanceR B | |||||
| Fighter Aircraft Fighter aircraft A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets... |
MiG-21 LanceR C | 20; air superiority | ||||
| An-26 Curl Antonov An-26 The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:... |
|
Cargo/Transport Aircraft Cargo aircraft A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo... |
An-26 | 4 | will be maintained in service until 2012 or more | |
| An-30 Clank Antonov An-30 The Antonov An-30 , is a development of the An-24 designed for aerial cartography.-Development:The first aerial survey version of the Antonov An-24 was designed by the Beriev OKB and designated An-24FK. The FK stood for fotokartograficheskiy . The prototype was converted from a production An-24A at... |
Reconnaissance Aircraft | An-30 | 1 | aerial cartography for Treaty on Open Skies Treaty on Open Skies The Treaty on Open Skies entered into force on January 1, 2002, and currently has 34 States Parties. It establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants... . |
||
| C-27J Spartan Alenia C-27J The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft. The C-27J is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's G.222 , with the engines and systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules... |
Cargo/Transport Aircraft Cargo aircraft A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo... |
C-27J | 3 | another 4 are scheduled to be delivered until 2012. | ||
| C-130 Hercules | Cargo/Transport Aircraft Cargo aircraft A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo... |
C-130B ----C-130H |
4 ----1 |
|||
| IAR 99 Șoim IAR 99 -References:* "Romanian Falcon". Air International, September 1990, Vol 39 No. 3. pp. 129–133.-External links:**... |
Trainer Aircraft | IAR-99 ----IAR-99C |
10 ----11 |
|||
| Yak-52 | Trainer Aircraft | Iak-52 | 12 | licensed built Yak-52 by Aerostar Aerostar Aerostar S.A., is an aeronautical manufacturing company based in Bacău, Romania.-History:Since its establishment in 1953, the company's name has changed in turn from U.R.A. to I.R.Av, I.Av. and finally Aerostar... |
||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| IAR 316 Alouette III IAR 316 -References:* http://avia.russian.ee/helicopters_eng/iar-317.php* https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/iar-317-airfox-See also:... |
Training Helicopter | IAR-316 | 6 | a squadron remains operational with the training unit at Boboc | ||
| IAR 330 Puma IAR 330 |-See also:-External links:*... |
Utility Helicopter Utility helicopter A Utility Helicopter is a multi-purpose helicopter. A utility military helicopter can fill roles such as ground attack, air assault, cargo, surveillance and troop transport. Their size is generally between cargo helicopters and light observation helicopters.... |
IAR-330 | 35 | |||
| Attack Helicopter Attack helicopter An attack helicopter is a military helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the capability of engaging targets on the ground, such as enemy infantry and armored vehicles... |
IAR-330 SOCAT | 23 | 25 initially, 2 crashed | |||
| Other | ||||||
| RQ-7 Shadow RQ-7 Shadow The RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle is used by the United States Army and Marine Corps. Launched from a trailer-mounted pneumatic catapult, it is recovered with the aid of arresting gear similar to jets on an aircraft carrier... |
 |
UAV Unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity... |
Shadow-600 | 7 | 11 initially, 4 crashed (1 in country, 3 in Iraq) | |
| S-60 57 mm AZP S-60 57 mm AZP S-60 ; literally: Automatic anti-aircraft gun S-60) is a Soviet towed, road-transportable, short- to medium-range, single-barrel anti-aircraft gun from the 1950s. The gun was extensively used in Warsaw Pact, Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries.-History:In the late 1940s, the... |
anti-aircraft gun | CRT 1RL-35M1 | 250 | Will be replaced with SHORAD systems. Still used for training as of 2010. | ||
| MIM-23 Hawk MIM-23 Hawk The Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk is a U.S. medium range surface-to-air missile. The Hawk was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960, and a program of extensive upgrades has kept it from becoming obsolete. It was... |
 |
surface to air missile | Hawk XXI | 224 | 8 batteries | |
| S-75 Dvina S-75 Dvina The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system... |
surface to air missile | S-75 M3 "Volhov" | 6 batteries; 18 or 20 initially delivered by USSR between 1963-1967, modernized three times since then. | |||
| AN/FPS-117 AN/FPS-117 The AN/FPS-117 is a phased array, 3-dimensional air search radar. It is produced by the Lockheed Martin corporation from the United States.The system is a low power, long range , L-band pencil beam, solid-state transmitter and beacon interrogator search radar... |
 |
radar Radar Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio... |
AN/FPS-117E (T) | 5 | 3-dimensional air search radar; in service since 1998 | |
| P-18 radar P-18 radar The P-18 or 1RL131 is a 2D VHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.- Development :... |
 |
radar Radar Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio... |
P-18 | 2-dimensional air search radar; in service since 1977 | ||
| P-37 Bar Lock | radar Radar Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio... |
P-37 Bar Lock | 2D E band/F band radar; in service since 1975 | |||
| TPS-79 | |
radar Radar Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio... |
TPS-79(R) | 19 | 3-dimensional air search radar. in service since late 2004. | |
| PRV-13 | Radar altimeter Radar altimeter A radar altimeter, radio altimeter, low range radio altimeter or simply RA measures altitude above the terrain presently beneath an aircraft or spacecraft... |
PRV-13 | In service since 1978 | |||
| RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 is a ship-based missile system used by the US Navy to intercept short-to intermediate-range ballistic missiles as a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Although primarily designed as an anti-ballistic missile, the SM-3 has also been employed in an... |
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System is a United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency program developed to provide defense against ballistic missiles. It is part of the United States national missile defense strategy... |
SM-3 (Block IB) | 24 | 3 batteries will be installed by 2015. | ||
Aircraft markings
The Romanian roundelRoundel
A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...
has the same colours like the Romanian flag. The innermost circle is blue, followed by yellow, and then red. It is placed on Romanian Armed Forces
Romanian Armed Forces
The Land Forces, Air Force and Naval Forces of Romania are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces...
vehicles and Romanian Air Force aircraft.
External links
- Official site of the Romanian Air Force
- Official site of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense (MoND)
- Order of Battle of the RoAF