RoAF 93rd Air Base

{{also|Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://adevarul.ro/locale/timisoara/istoria-regimentului-aviatie-vanatoare-timisoara-avut-primele-supersonice-mig-21-romania-1_55af89f5f5eaafab2cd24635/index.html |title=Istoria regimentului de aviație-vânătoare de lângă Timișoara care a avut primele supersonice MiG-21 din România |work=Adevărul |last=Both |first=Ștefan |date=22 July 2015| access-date=14 August 2023}}

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.

In 1972,{{cite web|url=http://www.baza93aeriana.ro/istoric.html|title=Istoricul Bazei 93 Aeriana Giarmata - Timisoara|language=ro|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108104923/http://www.baza93aeriana.ro/istoric.html|archive-date=8 January 2008}} the 31st Reconnaissance Squadron (Escadrila 31 Aviație Cercetare), independent from the 91st Regiment and equipped with MiG-21R aircraft was established. The first MiG-23 fighters arrived at the base in 1979.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-opinii-20497187-cum-ajuns-avioanele-sovietice-mig-23-romania-cum-voia-ceausescu-fabrice-tancuri-pentru-pietele-externe.htm|title=Cum au ajuns avioanele sovietice MIG-23 in Romania si cum voia Ceausescu sa fabrice tancuri pentru pietele externe|language=ro|author=Petre Opris|work=HotNews|date=12 October 2015}}

File:DF-SC-97-02399.jpg

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. In 1996, the base hosted the USAF Thunderbirds, Giarmata being the start location for their 30-day European tour.{{Cite magazine|title=Thunderbirds soar over an Eastern Europe once blanketed by an Iron Curtain |magazine=Airman Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JqhdjlhzWC8C&pg=RA10-PA42|author=Ray Johnson|issue=11|volume=XI|date=November 1996|page=42}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/timisoara/video-istoria-air-show-timisoara-2000-cel-mai-1785852.html |title=Istoria Air Show Timisoara 2000, cel mai mare miting aviatic din vestul României |work=Adevărul |last=Both |first=Ștefan |date=19 May 2017| access-date=14 August 2023}}

Following the disbanding of the 73rd Helicopter Group from Caransebeș, its helicopters were moved to Giarmata.{{cite web|url=http://www.scramble.nl/ro.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051228232910/http://www.scramble.nl/ro.htm|title=Romanian Air Force|archive-date=28 December 2005|work=Scramble (NL)}} After the MiG-23s were retired, the 93rd Air Base was disbanded on 31 August 2004 with the official ceremony taking place in September. The remaining MiG-21s from the base were redistributed to other bases. Currently, the base retains the AN/FPS-117 radar system,{{cite web |url=https://adevarul.ro/news/societate/baza-aeriana-timisoara-desfiintata-1_50ac07807c42d5a663840fd5/index.html |title=Baza aeriană de la Timișoara va fi desființată |work=Adevărul |date=20 April 2004 |access-date=14 August 2023}} and is also an annex of the 71st Air Base, hosting the 712th Helicopter Squadron.

The base also housed the Romanian Shadow 600 drones operated by the 142nd Unmanned Aircraft Squadron.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.mapn.ro/publicatii_militare/arhiva_infosfera/documente/2010/2_2010.pdf|title="Păsări de fier" - O perspectivă modernă asupra spațiului de luptă informațional|author-first1=Edward|author-last1=Calotă|author-first2=Vasile|author-last2=Călin|language=ro|magazine=Infosfera|issue=2/2010|publisher=Editura Top Form|place=Bucharest|issn=20653395|date=2010|page=68}} In 2003, the drones were reassigned to the General Directorate for Defense Intelligence{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/evenimente/video-drone-de-lupta-coproductie-2054332.html|title=Drone de luptă, coproducţie româno-israeliană. Dotări, preţ şi performanţe|language=ro|author=Valentin Bolocan|work=Adevărul|date=21 October 2020}} and by 2019 the number of drones still in service was uncertain.{{cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-23113519-armele-romaniei-fortele-aeriene-cate-mig-21-lancer-mai-are-romania-alte-avioane-elicoptere-radare-este-pazit-spatiul-aerian.htm|title=Câte MiG 21 LanceR mai are România și cu ce alte avioane, elicoptere și radare este păzit spațiul aerian|language=ro|author=Victor Cozmei|work=HotNews|date=29 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221140806/https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-23113519-armele-romaniei-fortele-aeriene-cate-mig-21-lancer-mai-are-romania-alte-avioane-elicoptere-radare-este-pazit-spatiul-aerian.htm|archive-date=21 February 2023}}

On 23 April 2023, it was announced that the Bayraktar TB2 drones purchased for the Romanian Land Forces were to be delivered to the 93rd Air Base. Bayraktar TB2 drones are operated by the Bayraktar Company of the 184th Sensors and Anti-aircraft Defense Battalion.{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/04/25/romania-awards-321-million-contract-for-turkish-tb2-combat-drones/|title=Romania awards $321 million contract for Turkish TB2 combat drones|author=Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo|language=tr|website=defensenews.com|date=25 April 2023|access-date=26 April 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Luca |first=Dorin |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Bayraktar, la orizont |url=http://presamil.ro/bayraktar-la-orizont/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |website=presamil.ro}}

The following units operate from the Giarmata base.

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Air Force General Staff

• 71st Air Base
• 712th Helicopter Squadron

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Land Forces Command

• 18th Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Brigade "Decebal"
• 184th Sensors and Anti-aircraft Defense Battalion "Timiș"
• Bayraktar Company

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• {{in lang|en}} [https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/romania/romania-air-force Order of Battle of the RoAF]
• {{in lang|ro}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080101232837/http://www.baza93aeriana.ro/index.html Unofficial Romanian Site]

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Romanian Air Force}}

{{Romanian Air Force units and formations}}

Category:Romanian Air Force bases

Category:Buildings and structures in Timiș County

Category:1953 establishments in Romania

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2004

Category:2004 disestablishments in Romania