RoAF 93rd Air Base
Baza 93 Aeriană
Part of RoAF 71st Air Base
Giarmata, Timiș County, Romania
A C-130 Hercules of the US Air Force Reserve at the airbase in 1996
Coordinates45°48′36″N 21°20′2.39″E / 45.81000°N 21.3339972°E / 45.81000; 21.3339972
Site information
Controlled by Romanian Air Force
Site history
Built1953
In use1953–2004; 2004–present (annex to the 71st Air Base)
Garrison information
Occupants712th Helicopter Squadron
142nd Unmanned Aircraft Squadron
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: TSR, ICAO: LRTR
Elevation106 metres (348 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
11/29 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) Asphalt

The Romanian Air Force 93rd Air Base (Romanian: Baza 93 Aeriană), also known as Giarmata Air Base, was an air base located in the commune Giarmata, near Timișoara, at the Traian Vuia International Airport. The base was disbanded in August 2004 due to the Romanian Armed Forces reorganisation program and the retirement of the MiG-23s which were based here.

The military sector of the Traian Vuia International Airport is currently an annex of the 71st Air Base hosting the 712th Helicopter Squadron (operating IAR-330M).[1] The base is also home to the 142nd Reconnaissance Squadron (officially the 142nd Unmanned Aircraft Squadron, operating Shadow 600 drones).[2][3]

History

Cold War

The base was established in 1953 as the 93rd Aviation Regiment (Regimentul 93 Aviație), following the transfer of an existing unit from Ianca. At that time, the regiment was equipped with Po-2, Yak-11 and Yak-17 aircraft. Following this transfer, the base was overhauled and from 1954 Yak-23 fighters began their missions at the base.[4]

In 1955, the first MiG-15s entered service with the regiment, and in 1959 the regiment changed its name to the 93rd Fighter Aviation Regiment. In 1962, the regiment received MiG-21F-13 fighters. These were brought by Soviet pilots from the Deveselu Air Base (at that time the 91st Fighter Aviation Regiment). Pilots were transferred from Craiova and Deveselu air bases to operate the new jets. Starting in 1968, the regiment began taking part in escort missions for presidential planes.[4]

In 1972,[5] the 31st Reconnaissance Squadron (Escadrila 31 Aviație Cercetare), independent from the 91st Regiment and equipped with MiG-21R aircraft was established.[4] The first MiG-23 fighters arrived at the base in 1979.[6]

Post-1990

US Air Force Thunderbirds on their way to Timișoara in 1996

By 1992, the 93rd Regiment had two squadrons equipped with MiG-23 and one with MiG-21. In 1995, the regiment was transformed into the 93rd Air Base following the restructuring of the Air Force and the abandoning of the communist-era regimental system. The 31st Squadron was disbanded in 1998, while in 1999, the first MiG-21 LanceRs arrived at the base.[4] In 1996, the base hosted the USAF Thunderbirds, Giarmata being the start location for their 30-day European tour.[7] In 2000, it hosted the largest air show of western Romania on the 90th anniversary of Aurel Vlaicu's first flight with the A Vlaicu I.[8]

Following the disbanding of the 73rd Helicopter Group from Caransebeș, its helicopters were moved to Giarmata.[9] After the MiG-23s were retired, the 93rd Air Base was disbanded on 31 August 2004 with the official ceremony taking place in September.[5] The remaining MiG-21s from the base were redistributed to other bases. Currently, the base retains the AN/FPS-117 radar system,[10] and is also an annex of the 71st Air Base, hosting the 712th Helicopter Squadron.[1] The 142nd Unmanned Aircraft Squadron established in 1998,[2] is also located at the base.[3]

On 23 April 2023, it was announced that the Bayraktar TB2 drones purchased for the Romanian Land Forces are to be delivered to the 93rd Air Base.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Romania - Air Force". Scramble (NL).
  2. 1 2 Calotă, Edward; Călin, Vasile (2010). ""Păsări de fier" - O perspectivă modernă asupra spațiului de luptă informațional" (PDF). Infosfera (in Romanian). No. 2/2010. Bucharest: Editura Top Form. p. 68. ISSN 2065-3395.
  3. 1 2 Beth Stevenson (11 January 2016). "Romanian army receives four Phoenix 30 UAVs". FlightGlobal.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Both, Ștefan (22 July 2015). "Istoria regimentului de aviație-vânătoare de lângă Timișoara care a avut primele supersonice MiG-21 din România". Adevărul. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Istoricul Bazei 93 Aeriana Giarmata - Timisoara" (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 8 January 2008.
  6. ↑ Petre Opris (12 October 2015). "Cum au ajuns avioanele sovietice MIG-23 in Romania si cum voia Ceausescu sa fabrice tancuri pentru pietele externe". HotNews (in Romanian).
  7. ↑ Ray Johnson (November 1996). "Thunderbirds soar over an Eastern Europe once blanketed by an Iron Curtain". Airman Magazine. Vol. XI, no. 11. p. 42.
  8. ↑ Both, Ștefan (19 May 2017). "Istoria Air Show Timisoara 2000, cel mai mare miting aviatic din vestul României". Adevărul. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Romanian Air Force". Scramble (NL). Archived from the original on 28 December 2005.
  10. ↑ "Baza aeriană de la Timișoara va fi desființată". Adevărul. 20 April 2004. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  11. ↑ Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo (25 April 2023). "Romania awards $321 million contract for Turkish TB2 combat drones". defensenews.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
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