Romania received
a large number of MiG-21's (around 320) between 1962 and 1981 . The country
received MiG-21's of the following subtypes: MiG-21F-13, MiG-21PF, MiG-21PFM,
MiG-21R, MiG-21M, MiG-21MF, MiG-21U, MiG-21US and MiG-21UM. A total of
114 (or 115) MiG-21M, -MF and -UM were updated to Lancer-standard by Aerostar
S.A at Bacau. These aircraft still fly from the airbases of Bacau, Cimpia
Turzii, Borcea and Timisoara. It is planned a squadron of Lancers will
start operating from Mihail Kogalniceanu in the near future. The last
unmodified MiG-21 aircraft, of the PFM-subvariant,were withdrawn from
use in the summer of 2002 when their airbase at Deveselu was closed. A
large number of unmodified MiG-21's from various subtypes are in storage
at Craiova awaiting an uncertain future. With the withdrawal of the MiG-23
and MiG-29 from the Romanian inventory the MiG-21 Lancer is currently
Romania's only fighter and will continue to fly till the year 2010. This
makes it likely Romania will be the last European MiG-21 operator.
Romanian AF MiG-21 types
Only the Romanian AF MiG-21UM & Lancer-pages are available now. Depending on the feedback received lists of the other types will also be made available.
