Agence France-Presse,
Washington: The Pentagon notified Congress on Monday of the possible sale of 48 F-16 fighters to Romania as part of a deal valued at 4.5 billion dollars.
Two dozen of the fighters would be new F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft built by Lockheed Martin, and the other two dozen will be refurbished surplus F-16C/D Block 25 aircraft, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
“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 agency said in a statement.
The sale would include engines, radars, communications systems, targeting pods, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems and electronic countermeasures systems.
Romania wants to replace its fleet of MiG-21 aircraft by 2010.
In addition to F-16s, it is looking at Swedish-made Gripen, the Eurofighter, and the French-built Rafale.
The deadline for bids had been extended until May 9.
