November 22, 2023

Romania intends to acquire short and very short-range air defence systems

By Defence Industry Europe

The United States Defence Security Cooperation Service has issued certification for a sale of the AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Lithuania of preliminary USD 100 million value. The purchase contract is planned to be signed by the end of the year. — NASAMS air defence sytem. Photo: Raytheon (RTX). Photo for illustration purposes only.

Romania is advancing its military capabilities with plans to acquire additional air defence systems. The Romanian Ministry of National Defence has officially started the process of finding suppliers for integrated short and very short-range air defence systems, aimed at complementing the PATRIOT systems they have been purchasing over the past few years.

The search is being conducted through Romtehnica, a company under the jurisdiction of the Romanian MoD. The estimated value of the future contract could reach up to 9.5 billion lei (RON), approximately 2.1 billion US dollars (USD). This investment is planned for the acquisition of 27 batteries, although their precise structure remains undisclosed. However, it is known that they will include integrated systems of both short and very short-range capabilities.

Each of these Romanian batteries is expected to comprise subsystems for:

Command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I);
Sensors;
Armaments;
Training;
Vehicles and transport platforms;
Energy;
Logistical support.

Romania is also placing significant emphasis on procuring a simulation system for training and assessing the skills of operators of the new system. The new weapon systems are designed to be strategically transportable by rail, road, sea, and air, implying that their mass and dimensions will be constrained.

The tender for these Romanian systems is set to open on January 8, 2024. It appears likely that bidders from Europe, the United States, and Israel may participate in the tender.

This move by Romania reflects a strategic effort to enhance its national defence capabilities, keeping pace with the evolving security landscape and reinforcing its military preparedness.