2023-09-27 14:32:06
The ministry plans to buy 48 fifth-generation F-35 combat aircraft from the United States in order to strengthen its defense in the context of the war in Ukraine and to devote more than six billion euros to it, the press reported on Wednesday local.
The Defense Ministry in Bucharest on Tuesday asked Parliament to approve the launch of the procedure for purchasing 32 F-35A stealth fighter jets worth $6.5 billion, according to the Profit information platform .ro.
Sixteen aircraft would be acquired in a second phase. It would be the largest arms contract signed by Romania, which joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union on January 1, 2007.
This purchase of F-35s, manufactured by the American defense group Lockheed Martin Corp, is planned as part of a government-to-government agreement. It was approved by the Supreme Defense Council of Romania (CSAT) last April.
The Defense Ministry is seeking preliminary approval from Parliament to begin the procurement process this year which will initially include 32 aircraft, logistics and training services, flight simulators and air-to-air munitions and air-ground.
Last November, Romania concluded an agreement with Norway to buy back 32 used F-16s, declared surplus by the entry into service of the F-35s within the Norwegian air force, in exchange for 388 million ‘euros. These devices are to be delivered from the end of this year and over the next three years.
The Romanian Air Force already has 17 F-16s acquired second-hand from Portugal.
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