Romania kicks off the acquisition of 32 F-35 fighter jets for $6.5 billion

The Parliament in Bucharest took note, on Tuesday, of the Defense Ministry’s request for the purchase of 32 F-35 fighter jets, estimated at $6.5 billion. Made in the USA, these aircraft are among the most advanced aircraft in the world. The investment was also approved by CSAT in April this year.

The Standing Bureaus of the Parliament took note, on Tuesday morning, of the request of the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) regarding the initiation of the procedure for awarding the agreements related to the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft.

MApN states that Phase 1 of the procurement program will be initiated in 2023 and involves the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft, engines, Initial Logistic Support, Training Services, flight boosters and air-to-ground munitions and air-to-air, for an estimated value of $6.5 billion.

The Ministry of Defense requests the Parliament’s prior approval for the initiation of the procedure for awarding the agreements related to the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft within the framework of the endowment program “Multirole aircraft of the 5th generation, F-35, through the Foreign Military Sales security assistance program (FMS). MApN states that Phase 1 of the procurement program will be initiated in 2023 and involves the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft, engines, Initial Logistic Support, Training Services, flight boosters and air-to-ground munitions and air-to-air, for an estimated value of 6.5 billion USD, and the quantities of equipment, other than aircraft, to be purchased are to be determined precisely after the initiation of the procedure for awarding compliance with the purchase contract.

US-made F-35 fighter jets ARE among the most advanced fighters in the world. They are with a wide range of advanced sensors, the ability to exchange encrypted information in real time with both air platforms and ground-based defense systems, the ability to manage the real operational picture of the battlefield, as well as with ammunition high-precision intelligence, allow achieving and maintaining air superiority, a mandatory condition for ensuring sovereignty in the national airspace and, if necessary, for its defense.

The spectrum of the mentioned defense capabilities will include, among others, enhanced air and anti-missile defense capabilities for the protection of own forces and advanced and diversified fire and long-range precision strike capabilities. Romanian Presidential Administration has announced since last year, in February, that Romania is considering the purchase of the latest generation American military aircraft F-35. “The new types of aircraft entered into the Army’s equipment, especially the F-16 aircraft, allow the execution of all specific missions with high efficiency,” the Presidency argued.