Romanian Airfield's Transformation Into A Giant NATO Base Is Underway

Romanian Airfield's Transformation Into A Giant NATO Base Is Underway

 Oliver Parken

The Romanian government has begun working to greatly expand Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in the southeast end of the country near the Black Sea. Once complete, the giant NATO base will sprawl over an area twice the size of the U.S. Air Force's Ramstein Air Base in Germany. 

The plan to dramatically expand the installation underscores NATO member Romania's strategic position, which has only been magnified since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

Various Romanian news outlets recently provided an update on construction underway at the base, citing comments and information obtained from Nicolae Crețu, the current commander of Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base "Mihail Kogălniceanu." Overall, the initiative will cost some €2.5 billion (just over $2.7 billion at current conversion rates), paid for by the Romanian government, with work spread out over the next 20 years

Once complete, the new base will be enlarged to the size of a small city, encompassing an area roughly 2,800 hectares (6,900 acres) and a total perimeter of 30 kilometers (just over 18 miles). According to Euro News Romania, the base will be able to accommodate 10,000 personnel from Romanian and NATO forces combined, as well as their dependents.

Per the Romanian government, the expansion of the base "is necessary to create new minimal operational facilities as well as the development and integration of the existing ones at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57, for the National Armed Forces and strategic partners, for the safe and timely operation of a squadron of multi-role aircraft, in defense or offensive interventions." 

The expansion will also allow ground force units to be stationed at the base, further enhancing Mihail Kogălniceanu's ability to facilitate various kinds of operations. "We are also designing the necessary infrastructure to be able to host and support ground capabilities, for special operations or any other type of military capability which is necessary to provide a response to the [future] security context," Crețu said.

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