Romania seals historic $6.5B deal for F‑35 fighter jets
Romania and the USA have signed an agreement for Bucharest to purchase 32 fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters. This is one of the most significant defense contracts in Romania's history. By acquiring the F-35A Lightning II, along with earlier purchases of the F-16, Romania can now afford to retire its Soviet-era aircraft.
7:01 AM EST, November 22, 2024
Additional F-16 fighters are systematically being delivered to Romania, purchased from Norway. These join the 17 F-16s Romania had already received from Portugal. The F-16s replaced Soviet MiG-21 aircraft in the Romanian Air Force. However, the F-16s are considered a temporary solution until Romania secures all the F-35A Lightning II fighters.
Romania buys F-35A Lightning II
The purchase of these modern American fighters, a move also supported by countries like Poland, was confirmed by signing the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procedure. The document was signed by Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar and U.S. Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec.
"This is the most important defense contract signed by Romania since the revolution in 1989," said Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, as quoted by the media.
Meanwhile, according to the portal Hotnews.ro, this is Romania's most expensive military purchase. The contract, amounting to approximately $6.5 billion, includes the purchase of 32 aircraft, logistical support, training, spare parts, and ammunition. The first F-35A Lightning II aircraft will arrive in Romania around 2030.
One of the most advanced combat aircraft
The Americans developed this aircraft as a multi-role fighter with stealth capabilities, making it difficult to detect by enemy radars. Additionally, it is equipped with tools for conducting electronic warfare operations.
It can also carry conventional weapons, including guided bombs, AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-132 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, and air-to-ground missiles such as AGM-65 Maverick or Storm Shadow. It features a standard 25 mm gun.
The Romanians emphasize that these advanced combat aircraft represent the pinnacle of aviation technology worldwide, offering interoperability capabilities with NATO allies. The F-35s are considered essential in modern military operations due to their speed (reaching up to 1.8 Mach, over 1,370 mph) and agility. According to the Romanian Defense Minister, they will symbolize the strength of the Romanian air force in the Black Sea region and serve as a key element of the national defense strategy.
