RoAF 86th Air Base

The Romanian Air Force 86th Air Base (Baza 86 Aeriană) is located in commune Borcea, Călărași County. It is currently the home of the 53rd Fighter squadron (operating Lockheed Martin F-16s), 861st and 862nd Fighter squadrons (operating MiG-21 LanceRs), and of the 863rd Helicopter squadron - located at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport (operating IAR-330Ls).

Since 1997, at the 86th Air base, a squadron has begun intensive training, in order to become capable of carrying out joint missions with NATO forces. A special training program has been initiated, aiming at a higher level of interoperability, and for this purpose the Fighter-Bomber Squadron was fully equipped with MiG-21 LanceR's. By the end of 2000, as a result of the Romanian Air Force reform, the structure of the 86th Air base was changed again. The 86th Air base has now a modular structure, fitting NATO's airbase model and offering a real background for achieving appropriate interoperability at this level, with the declared purpose to provide the necessary basis to plan, organize, command and accomplish the missions assigned.