The Minister of Defense, Angel Tilvar, sent, on Saturday, on the occasion of Aviation Day, a congratulatory message for the "great family of the Romanian Air Force", in which he remembers the world aeronautics pioneers Traian Vuia, Aurel Vlaicu and Henri Coanda, but also emphasizes the partnership Romania with several countries in the context of the current security environment, according to agerpres.ro.
"On July 20, we celebrate the Day of Romanian Aviation and the Air Force, along with the feast of the Holy Prophet Ilie Tesvitean, the spiritual protector of Romanian aviators. It is a day when we remember the pioneers of world aeronautics, Traian Vuia, Aurel Vlaicu and Henri Coanda, who who managed to make remarkable contributions to the development of world aviation. Their passion for flight and their inventive spirit have always made us proud to be Romanians. To the Romanian Air Force. Our respect and admiration goes to the aviators, the aeronautical personnel, the anti-aircraft defenders and the radiolocators united by the mission of keeping the homeland's skies safe," says Tilvar, according to a press release from the Ministry of National Defense (MApN).
He also pays tribute to the Romanian airmen who lost their lives in combat missions or during training, showing that "their sacrifice was not in vain and will never be forgotten".
"The radical changes in the international security environment required the adoption by NATO of a position of deterrence and regional defense," adds the Minister of Defense.
"We thank our allies from Canada, Italy, Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Spain and Turkey who, throughout the last years, have contributed to the mission of NATO's Reinforced Air Police in Romania. The involvement of our partners demonstrates NATO's 360-degree approach to the defense of the Alliance's skies, from west to east, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea," the press release reads.
"We are constantly concerned that, through appropriate endowment programs, we ensure that the Air Force is equipped with modern technology on all the operational components of this category of forces. The program to equip the Air Force with 32 multi-role F-16 aircraft purchased from the Government continues The Kingdom of Norway, which will have an important role in maintaining a credible defense and deterrence post on the eastern flank and, equally important, will ensure the transition to the V-generation aircraft, the F-35. At the same time, the endowment of the Romanian Army with the PATRIOT high-range surface-to-air missile system brings us among the states with robust, interoperable and efficient air defense capabilities," Tilvar also said.
Another theme addressed in the message is the attraction of young people to military high schools, the Air Force Academy and application schools, as human resource training is "a priority".
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