Romania has officially confirmed the intention to purchase fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, and the corresponding decision was approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense today, April 11.
The country will also develop air defense capabilities, as well as "high-precision fire and long-range strike capabilities," according to the agency's announcement. And all this due to the threat from russia and the need to support the security of the entire region, including Moldova.
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So far, only the intention to buy F-35 has been approved in Bucharest, without announcing the number and budget for this purchase. But in any case, it’s not a short-term perspective, since earlier the Ministry of Defense of Romania reported that if all bureaucratic procedures are agreed in 2023-2024, then the first F-35 squadron will be formed only after 2030.
For the Air Force itself, the purchase of the F-35 is extremely important, as the country has 22 units of the MiG-21 jets in service, 17 F-16’s, and another 32 are expected to arrive, which have been purchased in Norway. At the same time, Romania still has to agree on the purchase from the USA, go through all the contract signing procedures and prepare pilots, equipment and infrastructure. All of that will take years.
In particular, Greece turned to the US with an offer to buy F-35 in the fall of 2020. As of February 2023, the agreement is still not signed, although it is in advanced stages of readiness. The Greek contract provides for the supply of 20 units and additionally 20 optional ones. The first jets might be received no earlier than 2028, and the first squadron of 12 units is formed no earlier than 2031.
That is, for Romania, any delay in signing the contract means that "after 2030" will mean the mid-30s. In addition to the planes and weapons themselves, significant resources must be directed to the creation of the appropriate infrastructure. In particular, the Greek contract is currently worth about 3.5 billion dollars.
And after completing the order, Romania will become the country that will be the 20th F-35 operator. Currently, this aircraft operated by the USA, Great Britain, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Canada, Australia, Korea, Japan, ordered by Finland, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore. At the stage of agreement with the already mentioned Greece and Thailand. Among potential buyers is Morocco.
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