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.
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.
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.
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.
