Portugal will sell five more F-16 fighter jets to Romania

The Portuguese government has already sold 12 F-16 fighter jets to Romania over the last few years, in a deal that has already given the Portuguese government €189m in profit. The Romanian minister of defense, Mihai Fifor, announced that the country will buy five more of these jets from Portugal.

Defense minister, Fifor, revealed that both governments were discussing over the last few months the need of reinforcing the Romanian Civil Airforce, through acquiring more fighter jets. “A few days ago, Mircea Dusa, Romanian Secretary of State, visited Portugal. During his visit, he discussed the acquisition of the aircraft. This negotiation was discussed during the Nato Summit with our Portuguese partners and a decision was reached towards adding these five jets to our F16 squad. In the future, we might negotiate the acquisition of 36 more fighter jets to strengthen Romanian’s Civil Airforce.” said Fifor to BBC.

In 2013 Portugal signed a contract with the Romanians formalizing the sale of the 12 F16 jets. The trade raised a sum of €181m, which meant a liquid revenue of €78m for the Portuguese national accounts.

"Mircea Dusa, Romanian Secretary of State, visited Portugal a few days ago. During his visit, he discussed the acquisition of the aircraft. This negotiation was then discussed by myself during the Nato Summit with our Portuguese partners and a decision was reached towards adding these five jets to our F16 squad. In the future, we might negotiate the acquisition of 36 more fighter jets to strengthen Romanian’s Civil Airforce.”

In September 2016, after the aircraft was delivered to the Romanian government, the Portuguese minister of defense, Azeredo Lopes, said Portugal was in no conditions of selling more F16 fighters (which were produced in the United States), given the fact that the Portuguese Airforce already had the necessary number of jets to respond to its strategic and operational needs.

Azeredo Lopes noted as well at the time that he had a vested interest in maintaining the partnership with Romania, pointing out the possibility of Portugal purchasing obsolete aircraft and transforming it into new jets.