Romania to buy F-35 fighter jets from US to strengthen its aerial fleet

Europe, News April 15, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Romania has selected the F-35 Lightening II fighter jets to upgrade its air force fleet. After finalizing the deal, Romania would become the third Eastern European country, after Poland and the Czech Republic, to operate fifth-generation fighter jets.

The approval for the F-35 jets came from Romania’s Supreme Council on National Defense (CSAT), a state body chaired by the country’s President Klaus Iohannis. The information about the number of aircraft and total funds to make the purchase as well as the schedule for the contract is yet to be disclosed.

Romanian President’s office released a statement regarding the decision stating that “The process of the modernization of the Air Force will continue with the purchase of the latest-generation F-35 aircraft.” Romanian government continues to stress that F-35 jets are necessary to ensure the country’s commitments to NATO and European defense.

“The achievement of robust, credible, interoperable, flexible, and efficient operational capabilities for air defense, aimed at fulfilling the commitments assumed as a NATO and EU member state and deterring possible aggression, represents the essential condition for achieving Romania’s defense policy objectives,” the statement added.

Romania’s Presidential Administration statement highlighted that “These aircraft, equipped with a wide range of advanced sensors, real-time encrypted information exchange capabilities with airborne platforms and ground-based defense systems, real-time operational image management capabilities, as well as high-precision smart munitions, enable the achievement and maintenance of air superiority, which is a mandatory condition for ensuring sovereignty in national airspace and, if needed, for its defense.”

*^{U.S. F-35 Stealth Fighter Jet. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

Under the increasing pressure from its allies and the changing security situation of the region due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Romania is also among those Eastern European countries which as rapidly evaluating their defense strategy and upgrading their arsenals. Romani shares a 400-mile-long border with Ukraine.

Like many other members of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Romania has also increased its defense spending to 2.5% of its yearly economic output, from 2% in the last few years.

The Romanian air force currently operates 17 units of F-16 fighter jets that it acquired from Portugal. Last year, the Romanian government also signed a deal with Norway to purchase 32 second-hand F-16 fighter jets. In the month following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Romania also announced buying the U.S.-made Abrams tanks, as well as attack drones produced by Israeli firm Elbit Systems.

*^{Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets. (Image Credit: Kiril Todorov)}*

The U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets have seen an unprecedented increase in demand in the European market following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belgium, Greece, the Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, and Poland have placed several orders for the F-35 to replace their aging fleets of planes.

Germany announced a plan to purchase 35 F-35s in a deal valued at $8.4 billion. Germany’s deal has already been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. The Czech government seeks to purchase 24 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. while Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed a deal worth about $4.6 billion to acquire 32 F-35 fighters along with a training and logistics package for the Polish Air Force. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2024.