Romania is soon to receive Israeli Watchkeeper X unmanned aircraft systems. They are to be delivered in a few months and will enter service in mid-2026. The drones are now expected to be delivered more than six months late, which could force the Israeli company Elbit Systems to pay a penalty for exceeding the delay agreed with the Romanian military.
This was reported by Digi24. The agreement to supply Romania with Watchkeeper X UAVs, estimated at $407.8 million, was signed in December 2022. The deal included seven systems, with three drones per system, totaling 21 drones.
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On June 21, 2023, Elbit Systems confirmed a $180 million contract to supply three systems, which are scheduled for delivery by June 2025.
As of today, the delay has already exceeded five months, and the agreed deferral period will expire next month. However, it is possible that Elbit Systems could avoid penalties if the delay is limited to a month or a month and a half.
As the publication notes, the delay was caused by Israel’s war with Hamas. However, it is worth noting that Romania agreed to localize production as part of the Watchkeeper X UAV deal. This involves the airframe, drone assembly, and the production of control station components. Production is spread across three separate sites in different locations.
At the same time, a number of sources indicate that production in Romania will begin with the third system. In addition, testing of the first drones is underway in Israel, or is expected to begin soon.
Of the seven systems planned (with contracts signed for three so far), the land and naval forces will each receive three, while the air force will receive one.
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