România are mai multe avioane de luptă decât piloți pentru acestea. Radu Miruță: „Avioanele nu zboară singure”

Romania has more F-16 fighter jets than pilots, leading to a decrease in flight hours for military personnel. Minister Radu Miruță highlighted the challenges in both human resources and funding for operations. The number of flight hours has steadily declined from 25,000 in 2022 to 18,000 in 2025. The Ministry of National Defense noted that pilot training is hindered by a lack of IAR-99 aircraft and logistical issues. Currently, Romania operates 46 F-16s, with plans to increase to 49, while 18 additional jets are designated for pilot training.