RoAF 71st Air Base

The location of the base was used during World War II for air operations in the Aiud - Turda - Cluj area. In 1952, a concrete runway began to be built with the aim of basing Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-10 attack aircraft there.[3] In the summer of the same year, the 167th Assault Aviation Regiment was deployed at the base, which offered a firing range.[4] Until 1958-1959, the base was mainly used as a reserve airfield for the MiG-15 fighters of the aviation unit from Craiova.[1]

In 1969, an air defence unit was created on the airfield in order to provide protection against air attacks. A paratrooper regiment 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 the Deveselu base.[1]

On 30 June 1982, the 48th Squadron became a standing military unit based in Deveselu until 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 operating MiG-21 fighters. Between 1988 and 1990, the 71st Regiment was moved to Târgu Mureș while 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 modernized MiG-21 LanceR fighters, which carried Matra Magic 2 missiles.[1]

MiG-21 LanceR-C taking off from the base in 2008.

On 1 June 2002, according to a Romanian Armed Forces reorganization and modernization program, the 71st Fighter and Bombardment Base was merged with the 71st Fighter Aviation Group, the 401st Anti-Aircraft Divizion, and the Radiolocation battalions and companies, to form the 71st Air Base. At the same time, the 58th Helicopter Group from Sibiu was transformed into a squadron and assigned to the 71st Air Base.[1] During late 2004, the RoAF 93rd Air Base was 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 other Romanian Government institutions.[5] Between 2010 and 2013, the 71st Air Base was organized as the 71st Air Flotilla.[1]

The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 included $130.5 million to renovate Câmpia Turzii Air Base, in order to enhance the United States' ability to use it to for operations in the Black Sea region.[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 to Bacău for storage.[8] On 19 September 2023, the construction of new parking aprons, a hangar, and the Squadron Operations Facility, worth $34 million were completed.[9]

Front view of the Control Tower.

Four MiG-21 LanceR Cs belonging to 71st Air Base were deployed from August 2007 to November 2007 at Šiauliai, in Lithuania for Baltic Air Policing. The Romanian detachment succeeds the French Air Force Mirage 2000Cs of Escadron de Chasse 01.012 from Cambrai, which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007. Once the RoAF finish its three-month stint, a Portuguese Air Force detachment will take over the mission.[10]

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 in Kaunas, 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 the Soviet era has deployed to Šiauliai; Polish Air Force MiG-29s have also been deployed there in 2006. The RoAF will most probably perform again Baltic Air Policing in future.[11]

Six United States Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle fighters were deployed from 27 March to 6 April 2008, in order to provide air policing together with the Romanian Air Force fighters during the NATO 2008 Bucharest Summit, the 20th, held at Bucharest. These fighters were assisted by Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers located at the Budapest Airport in Hungary.[21] The 323d Air Expeditionary Wing directed the USAF deployment.[22]