Romania prepares the air base before arrival of Ukrainian F-16: what does it mean to the Armed Forces-the media

According to experts, the Mikhail Kongelnitsky Airbase, which is 200 km from the Ukrainian border, is of great strategic importance due to its location on the Black Sea coast and closeness to the Russian Federation. Romania's Defense Minister Angel Tilver announced large -scale plans to expand and modernize the Mikhail Kongelnitsky air base, located near the Ukrainian border.

As noted by Army Recognition, the official reason is indicated by the threat from the East, but in the context of the situation in Ukraine, the F-16 fighters may be placed. The air base, which is located less than 200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, has long been used to accommodate US forces and means. After Russia's full -scale invasion of Russia in 2022, its strategic importance only increased.

But Romania began to expand its capabilities before this event, when Russian troops invaded Georgia in 2008 and annexed Crimea in 2014. The commander of the Romanian Air Force Colonel Nicolae Crete said that the project involves the construction of a new runway, a sentinel tower, as well as additional hangars to protect existing and future military facilities. In total, the modernization is planned to spend € 2. 5 billion.

"Thus, it is a strategic position for possible foreign F-16 that could operate from this base and maintain a convenient radius of action, despite the distance," the authors of the material emphasize. Viewers write that the Michael Kongelnitsky Aviation Abaza is of great strategic importance due to its location on the Black Sea coast and proximity to the Russian territory. In recent years, the base has accepted several missions to protect NATO airspace.

The Finn F/A-18 Hornet was recently involved here for the first time as part of such missions. Last year, it also received two more batteries of Patriot air defense - now four of them. According to Romanian media, they plan to build a military facility similar in size to Ramstein in Germany, although officials have not yet confirmed these plans.