Romania will acquire 200 Patriot missiles worth more than $1 billion as part of the NATO program, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tylvar said on Thursday.
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Earlier, the NATO Sustainment and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announced that it would help alliance countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain, to jointly purchase 1,000 rounds for American Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems through a common contract.
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“The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has sought and received approval from the Romanian Parliament to participate in this joint procurement program, the total estimated cost of the entire package of 200 Patriot missiles intended to replenish the combat stocks of our army is 1.09 billion euros excluding VAT. This acquisition demonstrates that NATO has adequate solutions adapted for security in the region,” the press service of the Romanian Ministry of Defense quotes Tylvar.
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The Romanian minister stressed that Bucharest will continue to take the necessary steps to acquire modern military equipment and ammunition.
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“The assistance programs will contribute to the development and maintenance by the Romanian Army of a robust and sustainable, reliable, interoperable, flexible and effective defense capability. Romania consistently fulfills its obligations assumed as a result of membership in NATO and the EU and contributes to the implementation of effective measures to deter any aggression against the Euro-Atlantic region and formulate an adequate response to current and future challenges to the security environment,” Tylvar added.
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The NATO Battle Group (BGFP) in Romania was established in May 2022. Today, military personnel from France, Belgium and the Netherlands are in Romania, and the participation of other countries is not excluded. The battle group owns light armored vehicles and tanks, but expects to receive heavy weapons in the future.
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Earlier, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that he wants to increase the American presence in the region in all its aspects: military, economic, energy and political.
