After one of russia's Ukraine strikes in late May, when one long-range Shahed-type strike drone flew into Romanian airspace and hit residential building in Galati city, debate erupted in country about countering such threat, including available forces and assets, especially against backdrop of authority statements about serious incident and fact Romania should have one of most combat-ready air defenses.
Against this background, Romanian specialized publication Defense Romania raised another relevant question, how is modernization process of their Oerlikon GDF 103 anti-aircraft artillery systems to so-called non-mobile Skynex level proceeding.
Read more: Two U.S. Startups Founded Four Years Ago Plan to Launch Hypersonic Missiles From Autonomous Drone Ships by 2027
The fact is agreement for four system modernization was signed with German defense giant Rheinmetall back in December 2023. According to schedule published same month, two systems should have been upgraded and delivered within first two years, two more within three — meaning timelines through end of 2026.
At the same time, as publication notes, as of today it is unknown whether any modernized systems were delivered. Accordingly it remains under question whether Oerlikon GDF 103 modernization agreement will be fulfilled on time.
However, on other hand, one cannot say Romania lacks assets capable of shooting down Shaheds. These include not so young but very effective against drones self-propelled Gepard anti-aircraft systems, which today prove their capabilities in real battlefield conditions in Ukraine. Not to mention other assets including fighters.
Also early this year Romania's plans to deploy Merops anti-aircraft drones became known, tested in Ukraine and proven effective during iran war as well.
Ultimately worth noting that Shahed combat begins not with engagement but with detection, which is also important as these are targets that may fly at low altitude, making them difficult to detect using radar stations.
Read more: Ukrainian Drones Halt Operations at Crimea Titan Plant, Key Supplier for russian Explosives, Rocket Fuel (Video)
