Romania strengthens air defences with Airbus, Thales contracts

Romania has signed two major defence procurement contracts under the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, securing the purchase of 12 Airbus military helicopters and 12 Thales radar systems, Interim National Defence Minister Radu Miruta announced.

The agreements, valued at more than €1 billion, form part of Romania's broader military modernization drive and were concluded through a joint European procurement mechanism coordinated by the French Ministry of Defence, Agerpres reports.

"This is the latest situation regarding the SAFE contracts. Today, at 11:00, we signed the remaining contracts, namely those for 12 helicopters with Airbus and 12 radar systems from Thales," Miruta told a news conference.

He said the helicopter procurement includes industrial cooperation with Romania's IAR Ghimbav aerospace facility.

"The helicopters will entail cooperation with the IAR Ghimbav platform for localisation. Deliveries will begin from month 38."

Miruta also stressed the importance of the new radar systems in strengthening Romania's air defence capabilities, particularly against low-flying drones.

"As for the radar systems, we secured delivery of the first radar, which we urgently need because of the drones flying at low altitude, from month 11, so earlier than a year and a half."

According to the minister, the contracts were negotiated under the SAFE joint procurement framework, allowing Romania to secure more favorable pricing while ensuring domestic industrial participation.

"These contracts, as they are part of joint procurement, were managed by the French Ministry of Defence, which collected contributions from the countries participating in the joint purchase. The price of the helicopters is significantly lower through this joint procurement."

He added that Romania successfully negotiated provisions requiring elements of production to be localized.

"We also held separate discussions with these companies, asking them to localise production in Romania. (...) We succeeded in having these companies' obligations regarding localisation in Romania incorporated into the contract we have with the French Government."

Miruta noted that defence contracts worth €7.5 billion have already been signed on schedule under the SAFE program.

Additional agreements are expected to be concluded by 2030, including a €200 million contract for the joint production of drones in partnership with Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva