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RoAF 71st Air Base

Coordinates:46°30′12″N023°53′07″E/ 46.50333°N 23.88528°E/46.50333; 23.88528
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71st Air Base
Baza 71 Aeriană "General Emanoil Ionescu"
Luna
NearCâmpia TurziiinRomania
The Control Tower building at the 71st Air Base
Coat of arms of the 71st Air Base
Coordinates46°30′12″N023°53′07″E/ 46.50333°N 23.88528°E/46.50333; 23.88528
Site information
Controlled byRomanian Air Force
Site history
Built1952
In use1953 – Present
Garrison information
Current
commander
General de flotilă aerianăCătălin "Miki" Micloș[1]
Occupants713th Helicopter Squadron
United States Air Force:
731st Expeditionary Attack Squadron
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO:LRCT
Elevation324 metres (1,063 ft)AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
15/33 2,500 metres (8,202 ft)Concrete

TheRomanian Air Force71st Air Base "General Emanoil Ionescu"(Romanian:Baza 71 Aeriană "General Emanoil Ionescu"), also known as Câmpia Turzii Air Base, is located in thecommuneLunanear the city ofCâmpia Turzii,inCluj County.[2]The 71st Air Base was founded on 1 June 2002 from the previous 71st Fighter and Bombardment Base, according to theRomanian Armed Forcesreorganization program. It is named afterEmanoil Ionescu,a general who commanded the1st Air Corpsof theRoyal Romanian Air ForceduringWorld War II.

The base is home to the 713thHelicopterSquadron, operatingIAR-330.The 712th Helicopter Squadron is located at theGiarmata Airport.The base also hosts MQ-9 Reaper drones of the31st Expeditionary Operations Group,maintained by the731st Expeditionary Attack Squadronand operated remotely by the25th Attack Group.

The current base commander isGeneral de flotilă aerianăCătălin "Miki" Micloș.[1]

History[edit]

Origins to 1982[edit]

The location of the base was used duringWorld War IIfor air operations in theAiud-Turda-Clujarea. In 1952, aconcreterunway began to be built with the aim of basingSoviet-madeIlyushin Il-10attack aircraft there.[3]In the summer of the same year, the 167th Assault Aviation Regiment was deployed at the base, which offered afiring range.[4]Until 1958-1959, the base was mainly used as a reserve airfield for theMiG-15fighters of theaviation unitfromCraiova.[1]

In 1969, anair defenceunit was created on the airfield in order to provide protection against air attacks. Aparatrooperregiment was also founded and assigned to the Campia Turzii base in 1980.[5]In 1971, the 376th Airfield Command was formed with the task of maintaining the airfield and executing missions of particular importance. This Airfield Command became part of the 48th Fighter Aviation Squadron from the 91st Fighter Aviation Regiment which was stationed at theDeveselu base.[1]

1982–present[edit]

On 30 June 1982, the 48th Squadron became a standing military unit based inDeveseluuntil the capabilities of carrying out missions from the Câmpia Turzii base were achieved. In 1986, the 48th Fighter Aviation Squadron became the 71st Fighter Bombardment Regiment. In 1987, when the air base finally became fully operational, the 71st Regiment was moved to Câmpia Turzii and started operatingMiG-21fighters. Between 1988 and 1990, the 71st Regiment was moved toTârgu Mureșwhile some infrastructure works were carried out at Câmpia Turzii. According to the restructuring plan of the Air Force, the 71st Fighter and Bombardment Base with the 71st Fighter Aviation Group were formed at the Câmpia Turzii in 1995. On 24 January 2001 the unit received the first modernizedMiG-21 LanceRfighters, which carriedMatraMagic 2missiles.[1]

MiG-21 LanceR-Ctaking off from the base in 2008.

On 1 June 2002, according to aRomanian Armed Forcesreorganization and modernization program, the 71st Fighter and Bombardment Base was merged with the 71st Fighter Aviation Group, the 401st Anti-AircraftDivizion,and theRadiolocationbattalions and companies, to form the 71st Air Base. At the same time, the 58th Helicopter Group fromSibiuwas transformed into a squadron and assigned to the 71st Air Base.[1]During late 2004, theRoAF 93rd Air Basewas disbanded and its helicopter units were relocated at the 71st base. Since then, the 71st Air Base participated in a large number of national/multinational military exercises and training missions. Also, it often participated in various humanitarian missions, in cooperation with otherRomanian Governmentinstitutions.[5]Between 2010 and 2013, the 71st Air Base was organized as the 71st Air Flotilla.[1]

TheWilliam M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021included $130.5 million to renovate Câmpia Turzii Air Base, in order to enhance theUnited States' ability to use it to for operations in theBlack Searegion.[6][7]On 15 May 2023, the MiG-21s were retired. A retirement ceremony was held at the base, after which the aircraft were flown toBacăufor storage.[8]On 19 September 2023, the construction of newparking aprons,a hangar, and the Squadron Operations Facility, worth $34 million were completed.[9]

With the purchase of F-16s from theRoyal Norwegian Air Force,a new squadron, the 48th Fighter Squadron (Escadrila 48 Vânătoare), will be activated at the base. The first three F-16s arrived at the base on 19 April 2024, while another three F-16s previously arrived at the86th Air Base.[10]

2007 Baltic Air Policing[edit]

Front view of the Control Tower.

Four MiG-21 LanceR Cs belonging to 71st Air Base were deployed from August 2007 to November 2007 atŠiauliai,inLithuaniaforBaltic Air Policing.The Romanian detachment succeeds theFrench Air ForceMirage 2000CsofEscadron de Chasse 01.012fromCambrai,which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007. Once the RoAF finish its three-month stint, aPortuguese Air Forcedetachment will take over the mission.[11]

The four aircraft and a total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, are part of the detachment: 63 serve at Šiauliai, while other four serve at the air traffic control centre inKaunas,to ensure smooth cooperation with local authorities. The Romanian detachment has attracted huge attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it is only the second time a fighter from theSovietera has deployed toŠiauliai;Polish Air ForceMiG-29shave also been deployed there in 2006. The RoAF will most probably perform again Baltic Air Policing in future.[12]

International deployments[edit]

An F-16 of the 100th Fighter Squadron and a MiG-21 LanceR flying over the air base in 2015

In 2012, anAlabama Air National Guardcontingent composed of eightF-16fighters and nearly twenty fighter pilots of the100th Fighter Squadronwas deployed at the base to participate in the three-week "Dacian Viper 2012" exercise. The contingent exercised with approximately 200 Romanian soldiers, technical staff, and pilots flying six MiG-21 LanceRs.[13]The 100th Fighter Squadron was deployed at the base again in 2015 for exercise "Dacian Viper 2015".[14]

ARoyal Canadian Air Forcedetachment of 6 xMcDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornetsfrom425 Tactical Fighter Squadronwas based here between 5 May and 22 August 2014, when the detachment was moved toŠiauliai Air Basefor Baltic Air Policing duties.[15][16]

In March 2015, an advance group of fourA-10sof the U.S. Air Force arrived to take part in an exercise. The “Dacian Thunder 2015” operation, held between 27 March and 7 July 2015, involved 350 Airmen and 12 A-10s.[17]

In 2019, the firstMQ-9 Reapersof theUS Air Forcewere deployed at the base. These drones were operated by the52nd Expeditionary Operations Group,Detachment 2 based atMirosławiecinPoland.[18]In 2020, they participated in the "Dacian Reaper-20" exercise.[19]

In February 2021, the US Air Force deployed approximately 90 airmen and several MQ-9 drones of the31st Expeditionary Operations Group,Detachment 1 at the base. The Reapers started flying remote-split operations on 1 February. The drones are managed by the newly activated731st Expeditionary Attack Squadronwhile air operations are handled by the25th Attack Group,located at theShaw Air Force Base,South Carolina.The group is subordinated to the432nd Air Expeditionary Wing.[20][21]On 14 July 2022, one of the drones crashed in acornfieldsouth of the base, while conducting a training mission.[22]

Also in 2021, the US began participating in the enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania by deploying F-15 fighters of the336th Fighter Squadronto the air base.[23]

2008 Bucharest summit[edit]

F-15E Strike Eagles lined up at the base in 2008

TwelveUnited States Air ForceMcDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eaglefighters and more than 150 aviators of the492nd Fighter Squadronwere deployed from 27 March to 6 April 2008, in order to provide air policing together with the Romanian Air Force fighters during theNATO2008 Bucharest Summit,the 20th, held atBucharest.[24]These fighters were assisted byBoeing KC-135 Stratotankerslocated at theBudapest AirportinHungary.[25]Under the code-name Operation Noble Endeavor, the Romanian-led effort supported by the323d Air Expeditionary Wingdirected the USAF deployment of KC-135 Stratotankers, F-15C and F-15E Strike Eagles,E-3 Sentries,andF-16 Fighting Falcons.[26]

Based units[edit]

The following flying and non-flying units are located at Câmpia Turzii.[27][28]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefg"Baza 71 Aeriană".roaf.ro(in Romanian).
  2. ^Andrei Luca Popescu (14 July 2020)."Punctul strategic al NATO de la Câmpia Turzii. De ce bagă SUA banii în baza aeriană de lângă Cluj".Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty(in Romanian).
  3. ^"Baza aeriană din Câmpia Turzii a marcat aproape patru decenii de la înființare".actualdecluj.ro(in Romanian). 1 July 2020.
  4. ^Vasile Tudor (December 2004)."Modernizarea aviatiei militare romane".Orizont Aviatic(in Romanian). No. 26.
  5. ^abHistory of the 71st Air BaseArchived2008-03-27 at theWayback Machine,Romanian Air Force official site. Retrieved on March 27, 2008
  6. ^Vandiver, John (July 9, 2020)."Air Force wants to turn Soviet-era base in Romania into NATO Black Sea hub".Stars and Stripes.
  7. ^"Baza Aeriană de la Câmpia Turzii va fi modernizată de SUA. Americanii vor rotații ale aeronavelor de luptă pentru descurajarea Rusiei".defenseromania.ro(in Romanian). July 9, 2020.RetrievedOctober 22,2020.
  8. ^Ovidiu Cornea (15 May 2023)."Ultimul zbor al MiG-urilor. Mărturie impresionantă despre misiunea de salvare a unui avion prăbușit".Europa Liberă(in Romanian).
  9. ^Christopher Gardner (19 September 2023)."Romanian and U.S. officials in Campia Turzii celebrate new facilities at Air Base 71, part of more than $100 million in U.S. investments in the Romanian base".DVIDS.
  10. ^Dumitrache, Ciprian (19 April 2024)."Escadrila 48 începe să prindă contur în România. Primele 3 avioane F-16 au ajuns la Câmpia Turzii".DefenseRomania.Retrieved19 April2024.
  11. ^LanceRs on Alert over Baltics,Air Forces Monthly,November 2007 issue, p. 36.
  12. ^LanceRs on Alert over Baltics,AirForces Monthly,November 2007 issue, p. 37.
  13. ^Clare Reed (11 October 2012)."Dacian Viper: Guard F-16s In Romania".codeonemagazine.com.
  14. ^Christopher Baldwin (12 November 2015)."187 Fighter Wing Airmen, F-16s return from Romania".187fw.ang.af.mil.
  15. ^"Canadian Aircraft to Land at Câmpia Turzii".english.mapn.ro.7 May 2014.
  16. ^Jerome Lessard (22 August 2014)."Canada's ATF completes mission in Romania".The Intelligencer (Belleville).
  17. ^"U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II jets have deployed to Romania".30 March 2015.
  18. ^"USAF MQ-9A Reaper Activity in Romania".Amy's OSINT.25 April 2021.
  19. ^"Exercițiul DACIAN REAPER-20".presamil.ro(in Romanian). 19 February 2020.
  20. ^Amelia Smith (14 July 2022)."MQ-9 Reaper Has Crashed in Romania".Overt Defense.
  21. ^Bethany Karlberg (16 February 2021)."MQ-9 begins flying missions from Romania".United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa.
  22. ^Clement Charpentreau (14 July 2022)."USAF MQ-9 Reaper drone crashes in Romania".AeroTime Hub.
  23. ^"US F-15 Fighter aircraft successfully supported NATO Enhanced Air Policing in Romania".nato.int.23 December 2021.
  24. ^Randall Haskin (July 23, 2008)."Bolar Spring Break 2008".lakenheath.af.mil.
  25. ^"Șase avioane F15 și sute de militari americani, la Baza de la Câmpia Turzii"[Six F-15 fighters and hundreds of US military personnel deployed at Câmpia Turzii base].Mediafax.March 27, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2012.
  26. ^Petosky, Eric (26 March 2008)."Airmen augment Romanian security for NATO summit".323rd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.Retrieved19 December2016.
  27. ^"Romania - Air Force".Scramble (NL).
  28. ^Măcărescu, Laura (2019)."Briză și Foc"(PDF).Cer Senin(in Romanian). Vol. 2, no. 157. p. 50.
  29. ^"Noua Escadrilă 48 de la Câmpia Turzii devine operațională în 2025. Piloții români de aici zboară deja pe avioane F-16 achiziționate din Norvegia".DefenseRomania(in Romanian). 26 May 2024.

External links[edit]