In a US$6.4 billion boost for Lockheed Martin, Romania has finally signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) for 32 F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation stealth aircraft. The decision comes amid enhanced security threats from Russia and fears of the Ukraine war spilling over into Europe.
Responding to the signing of the LoA, the US-based manufacturer of the F-35 Lightning II, Lockheed Martin, said in a statement: “The integration of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft into the Romanian Air Force will significantly strengthen NATO’s deterrence capabilities by providing unmatched strategic, operational, and tactical advantages.”
This deal, necessitated by the return of war to Europe, would likely stand as one of the most costly defense acquisitions in Romania’s Armed Forces’ history. The F-35 Lightning II is regarded as one of the world’s most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter jets. Romania has now become the 20th country in the world to opt for the F-35 Lightning II.
The signing of the LoA came more than a year after this former Soviet state commenced the process of acquiring the aircraft. The Supreme Council of Defence of the Country (CSAT) decided to purchase these advanced stealth multirole combat aircraft in April 2023, and the Romanian Ministry of Defense (MoD) sought parliamentary approval for the acquisition a few months later, in September.
With this acquisition, Romania will formally join a group of European countries and NATO allies that have opted for the advanced stealth aircraft, including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Several states have also opted for add-on orders.
“We expect by 2030 these planes will be flying above Romania,” the US Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec told reporters at the signing ceremony for the LOA in Bucharest. In the interim, Romania will continue to fly the F-16 fourth-generation fighters while an F-16 training center will support the transition to the F-35, the ambassador added.
Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with the Romanian and Dutch governments, opened the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania last year. The EFTC’s collaborations ensure that Romanian pilots are fully prepared to carry out their missions safely and successfully by providing faster-specialized training.
The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) currently operates a fleet of 17 F-16 A/B fighter aircraft acquired after being used by Portugal between 2016 and 2021. Moreover, last year, Bucharest signed an agreement to acquire 32 used F-16 fighters from Norway, which has now transitioned to the F-35. It is believed that these aircraft will continue to operate for ten more years, acting as a stop-gap solution until the F-35s arrive.
The F-35 order “will take Romania even a step forward, [beyond the F-16 protecting national borders] both on behalf of Romanian security, but also on behalf of the NATO Alliance,” said the US ambassador.
“Because these planes will also be part of air policing, Romania participates in NATO-wide air policing, air policing occurs here in Romania, and it occurs in other parts of NATO territory, so this will allow Romania to keep up with the rest of the alliance and to have an even stronger security footprint.”
Making Romania War-Ready!
The acquisition of the F-35 Lightning II fighters is a part of Romania’s comprehensive military modernization.
Besides the stealth aircraft, Romania is also buying 54 M1A2 Abrams Main battle tanks (MBTs) from the United States and likely about 300 to 500 K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea. It is also buying 54 K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers from Seoul. The overall military overhaul has been triggered by Russia’s security threat.
In an interview with Europa Liberă România published earlier this year, Romania’s military chief exhorted the country to be ready for war with Russia.
When asked about the threat of war, Gheorghiță Vlad, Romania’s chief of defense, said, “Yes, the population of Romania, like the entire population of the European Union, of Europe, must be concerned. If he wins in Ukraine, the main target will be the Republic of Moldova. We will witness tensions in the Western Balkans.”
He added, “I am more than convinced that President Putin’s policy will escalate in the near future.”
Due to its geographical proximity to Ukraine, Romania has anxiously seen the war coming closer to its border. In September last year, for instance, a Russian kamikaze drone came dangerously close to unintentionally striking the country, which forced its border guards to scramble for cover.
This incident reportedly damaged the international border crossing connecting Ukraine. The country has also reported airspace violations by Russian drones on several occasions.
Not just that, the wreckage of missiles and drones fired on Ukraine has been frequently recovered from Romania. These incidents have catapulted the southeast European country into action, forcing it to adopt a more proactive security approach.
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