The approval also includes an option for Romania to purchase additional missiles in the future, the embassy noted in its press release on Thursday.
Romania has been actively upgrading its air force. In November 2022, the country signed a contract to acquire 32 F-16 fighter jets from Norway for USD 388 million. The first three aircraft from this purchase arrived in Romania in July 2023, adding to the twenty F-16 jets already in operation.
In May, Romania further strengthened its air defence by acquiring AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles worth USD 70 million, also compatible with the F-16 jets.
These purchases are part of a broader effort by Romania to bolster its defence capabilities amid ongoing tensions in the region, particularly due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The country has also made significant acquisitions, including Patriot missiles and Marte ER missiles. Last month, South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace signed a USD 1 billion deal with Romania’s defence ministry to supply 54 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 36 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.
