Romania is looking to spend upward of $4.5 billion for 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft as well as associated equipment and services, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported.
The Romanians are requesting the F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPE) and APG 68(V)9 radars; refurbishment and upgrades of 24 F-16C/D Block 25 aircraft being provided as Excess Defense Articles with the F100-PW-220 Increased Performance Engines (IPE) and APG-68(V)1 radars; four F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 IPE spare engines; five F100-PW-220 IPE spare engines; four APG-68(V)9 spare radar sets; 60 LAU-129/A Launchers; 30 LAU-117 Launchers; six Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; four AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) with HAVE QUICK I/II; 24 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs); four Link- 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals; two Link-16 Ground Stations; four Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS); 12 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING Targeting Pods; four Tactical Air Reconnaissance Systems or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE); four AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems; 28 AN/ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management Systems; 28 AN/ALQ- 211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS); or AN/ALQ-187 Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES), or AN/ALQ-178 Self-Protection Electronic Warfare Suites (SPEWS). Also included: support equipment, software development/integration, tanker support, ferry services, CAD/PAD, repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support, DSCA said.
The contractors include: BAE Systems, Boeing [BA], Raytheon [RTN], Lockheed Martin [LMT], Northrop Grumman [NOC], Pratt & Whitney [UTX] General Electric [GE], Goodrich [GR], and L3 Communications [LLL].
The proposed sale will allow the Romanian Air Force to modernize its aging air force by acquiring both new and used fighter aircraft, thereby enabling Romania to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations. The country will have no difficulty absorbing this new capability into its armed forces, according to DSCA.