The Romanian Minister of Defence, Angel Tîlvăr, said on Thursday on Romanian Aviation and Air Force Day that Ukraine’s dramatic experience shows that defence starts at home, and that is why the Romanian Army is carrying out „the most ambitious modernisation programme in its history”. Angel Tîlvăr also said that the Romanian Air Force is going through one of the best periods in its history. Fighter and transport planes, military helicopters and civilian aircraft have flown over the capital Bucharest on Thursday. Romanian Aviation and Air Force Day is celebrated every year on July 20, on the religious holiday of the Feast of Saint Elijah, the spiritual protector of pilots. Currently, the Romanian detachment Carpathian Vipers, consisting of four F-16 aircraft, is deployed to Lithuania carrying out an Enhanced Air Policing mission in the Baltic States.
