Romania to sign historic F-35A fighter jet contract by year’s end

Tîlvăr detailed Romania’s ambitious plans to split the procurement program into two phases. The initial phase will see the acquisition of 32 F-35A aircraft, followed by a second phase covering the remaining 16 jets. In total, Romania aims to obtain 48 F-35As, surpassing Poland’s contract with the United States, which secured 32 of these advanced aircraft in January 2020.

The Defence Minister confirmed that the procurement process is currently underway. A Letter of Request (LOR) has already been dispatched to Washington, having been sent in September of the previous year. Romania now awaits a response from the United States, which will outline the framework for the forthcoming contract.

Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, stands to benefit significantly from this deal. Minister Tîlvăr announced that the budget allocated for the F-35 program will be approximately USD 6.5 billion. This budget, the largest defence contract in Romania’s history, will not only cover the aircraft themselves but also include armaments, training services, logistical support, spare parts, engines, and simulators.

Currently, the Romanian Air Force is integrating additional F-16 fighter jets into service, which are expected to serve as a transitional platform towards the more advanced F-35. At the end of 2022, Romania acquired 32 used F-16 multi-role aircraft from Norway, with nine of these jets already operational with Romanian pilots.

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