Known as the Cocargeaua aerodrome, it was to be used as a reserve landing and deployment base of the Royal Romanian Air Force during World War II.

[2] Starting in 1997, a squadron at the 86th Air base began intensive training, in order to become capable of carrying out joint missions with NATO forces.

A special training program was initiated, aiming at a higher level of interoperability, and for this purpose the Fighter-Bomber Squadron was fully equipped with MiG-21 LanceRs.

The 86th Air base has now a modular structure, fitting NATO's airbase model and offering a real background for achieving appropriate interoperability at this level, with the declared purpose to provide the necessary basis to plan, organize, command, and accomplish the missions assigned.

[7] The first US deployment at the base took place in 2021 when the 336th Fighter Squadron arrived to conduct exercise Castle Forge.

[8] In February 2022, eight F-16s of the 480th Fighter Squadron were deployed to the base to conduct enhanced Air Policing missions.

[9] The F-16s participated in enhanced Air Policing activities for a three-month period, until they were replaced by the 510th Fighter Squadron.

[13][14] In July 2023, it was announced that the F-16 training center intended for Romanian, Ukrainian, and other NATO pilots was to be located at the 86th Air Base.

[24] The first group of students that started training at the center in November 2023 was made up of seven Romanian former MiG-21 LanceR pilots.

[26] In June 2024, the Romanian Government approved an emergency ordinance through which it will cover the training and accommodation expenses of the Ukrainian pilots at the base.