Romania to buy 18 Bayraktar TB2 combat drones from Turkiye

Europe, News April 27, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Romanian Ministry of Defense has awarded a $321 million contract to Turkish drone manufacturer, Baykar Technologies, for the procurement of 18 Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The ministry released a statement on April 25, 2023, saying that drones will be used by the Romanian Land Forces. Romania is buying three systems from Baykar Technologies. Each system includes six aerial platforms, a total of 18 drones. The initial cost of the program also includes a logistical support package, necessary training, and other equipment.

The statement further said that the procurement of combat drones would allow Romania to meet the NATO defense capability targets and to achieve the transformation objectives set for the Romanian Army for 2040.

The tender for the acquisition of drones was released online through the Official Journal of the European Union focused on public procurement projects. A notice published on April 25, 2023, on the platform, announced that the contract has been awarded to the Turkish manufacturer.

Romania had been exploring options for combat drones since August last year. Romania will become the second EU country, after Poland, to operate TB2 and the third European NATO member to order them from Turkey.

*^{Turkiye’s Bayraktar TB2 drone in undated file photo. (Image Credit: IHA/via DailySabah)}*

The drones will be stationed at Romania’s Timisoara air base. The base had been under the control of the Romanian Air Force and housed the country’s fleet of MiG-23s. The base has been closed since the retirement of the MiG-23 jets, Romanian Army plans to revive the base and make it operational for its new drone fleet.

Romania’s military transformation plans

Acquisition of modern combat drones is part of Romania’s ambitious military transformation plan that seeks to provide forces with new military equipment and weapons systems by 2040. Romania intends to increase its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP in 2023.

Last year, the country allocated roughly $6 billion for defense spending. Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis also said that Bucharest was also looking at buying F-35 stealth fighter jets to modernize its air force.

In December 2022, Romania’s state-owned company signed a deal with Israel’s Elbit Systems to purchase up to seven Watchkeeper X drones. Watchkeeper X is designed for intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. The British military is the primary user of the Watchkeeper X drones, however, due to its cheaper cost many Eastern European countries are opting to use Watchkeeper X for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Bayraktar TB2 drones

The Bayraktar TB2 is a lightweight, medium-altitude, and long-endurance Unmanned Combatant Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) that can carry four L3Harris Hornet bomb racks to accommodate L-UMTAS (Long Range Anti-Tank Missile System).

The TB2 drone has proven to be quite effective against Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine war. The drone has become quite popular among Ukrainians and other Eastern European countries. The drone has also proven its worthiness during the conflicts in Syria and Libya.