Tecuci Airfield

The closure was a direct result of a major restructuring and downsizing program within the Romanian Armed Forces. This process, initiated after the end of the Cold War and accelerated by Romania's bid to join NATO, aimed to create a smaller, more modern, and professional military. The decision was driven by economic factors, the need to consolidate air force operations into fewer, more capable bases (like those at Câmpia Turzii and Fetești), and the gradual retirement of the older Soviet-era aircraft, such as the non-modernized MiG-21s, that were stationed at Tecuci.

The site is currently inactive for aviation purposes and is in a state of conservation under the administration of the Romanian Ministry of National Defence. The runway, taxiways, and characteristic hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) are still intact but show significant signs of decay, with cracked concrete and vegetation overgrowth. The base is largely abandoned but remains a restricted military zone, guarded by a small detachment. It is occasionally used for non-aviation military activities, such as ground troop training, and serves as a backdrop for urban exploration photography due to its well-preserved Cold War-era structures.

Tecuci Airfield has a rich and significant military history. It was an important air base for the Royal Romanian Air Force during World War II, operating aircraft like the indigenous IAR 80 fighter and serving as a forward base for operations on the Eastern Front. During the Cold War, it became one of Romania's primary fighter bases under the Warsaw Pact. It was designated as the 91st Air Base ('Baza 91 Aeriană') and was home to various fighter regiments. Over the decades, it hosted a succession of iconic Soviet fighter jets, including the MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, and most notably, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 'Fishbed'. In its final years of operation, it flew the modernized Romanian variant, the MiG-21 LanceR, playing a crucial role in the country's air defense.

There are currently no credible or funded plans to reopen Tecuci Airfield. Over the years, there have been sporadic discussions and proposals by local politicians to convert the site into a civilian airport for passenger or cargo traffic to serve the wider Galați-Brăila region. However, these proposals have never moved forward due to the prohibitive costs required to completely rebuild the runway, construct a modern terminal, and install new air navigation and safety equipment. From a military standpoint, the Romanian Air Force has concentrated its resources on upgrading its other strategic bases, making a military reactivation of Tecuci highly improbable.