RoAF 57th Air Base

RoAF 57th Air Base
Baza 57 Aeriană "Căpitan Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino"
Mihail Kogălniceanu, Constanța County
Near Constanța in Romania
British and Finnish fighter jets prepare to scramble during exercise Ramstein Legacy 2024
Coat of arms of the 57th Air Base
Site information
OwnerMinistry of National Defence
OperatorRomanian Air Force
United States Army
Location
RoAF 57th Air Base
RoAF 57th Air Base
Coordinates44°21′46.79″N 28°29′13.19″E / 44.3629972°N 28.4869972°E / 44.3629972; 28.4869972
Site history
Built1955 (1955)
In use1955–present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Comandor Gabriel Goagă
Occupants
  • 572nd Helicopter Squadron
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: CND, ICAO: LRCK
Elevation107 metres (351 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
18/36 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) Concrete

The 57th Air Base "Captain Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" (Romanian: Baza 57 Aeriană "Căpitan Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino"), also known as Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, is a Romanian Air Force base located near Constanța, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport. It is home to the 572nd Helicopter Squadron, while the 571st Fighter Squadron is forming at Câmpia Turzii until the base improvements are completed. The air base also has a significant US military presence, being the location of the US Army Garrison Black Sea and Area Support Group Black Sea, hosting over 1,400 US troops.

In 2024, construction began on a project aimed at modernizing and expanding the base. Under the same project, it is planned to build a military city similar to Ramstein Air Base, where more than 10,000 NATO servicemen will live together with their families, although this number could be doubled to 20,000 soldiers of which half would be stationed permanently and half on temporary deployments.

The current base commander is Comandor Gabriel Goagă.