Romania aims to buy F-35 fighter planes to boost air defences

The Romanian supreme defence council (CSAT) has said that Romania aims to buy the latest generation US F-35 fighter planes to boost its air defences.

The European Union and NATO have raised defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product this year from two per cent, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to US News.

The country, which shares a 650-km (400 mile) border with Ukraine, is host to a US ballistic missile defence system and, as of last year, has a permanent alliance battlegroup stationed on its territory.

"Having robust, credible, interoperable, flexible and efficient air defence operational capabilities ... as part of our commitments as a NATO and EU state is key to Romania meeting its defence policy objectives," the statement said.

"The air force's modernisation process will continue through the acquisition of last generation F-35 jets."

The council did not elaborate on timing or numbers.

Last year, President Klaus Iohannis said Romania was mulling acquiring F-35 planes, which are made by US weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp.

In March, the defence ministry said Romania would buy Abrams tanks made by General Dynamics, as part of wider defence acquisitions plans. In December, Romania's defence ministry signed a deal to acquire seven Watchkeeper X unmanned aircraft systems from Israeli defence electronics firm Elbit Systems for roughly 1.89 billion lei ($418.02 million).