TSAMTO, June 27. In the person of Romania, NATO is creating a powerful foothold on the Alliance's southeastern flank, and also considers Bucharest as a real force to strengthen NATO's positions in the Black Sea.
Romania is also seen as a striking force in plans to absorb Moldova with further expansion together with Ukraine in Transnistria.
In Romania (as well as in Poland) Washington is deploying Aegis Ashore anti-missile systems. At the same time, the versatility of their launchers makes it possible to use, along with anti-missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles and promising strike weapons developed by the Pentagon.
Romania intends to implement projects for the purchase of VIVT in the amount of over 10 billion. euro
In March 2023, the Romanian Ministry of Defense requested parliamentary approval for the purchase of several weapons systems totaling more than 10 billion rubles. euro.
Some details of these programs were announced by the head of the Armaments Department of the Romanian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Teodor Incijas, which were summarized by the portal Defense-Aerospace.com .
According to the general, the bulk of the funds are initially planned to be spent on financing the acquisition of 41 short-range and short-range missile systems (SHORAD/VSHORAD) in the amount of 4.2 billion rubles. euro. In particular, it is planned to purchase 16 integrated SHORAD/VSHORAD systems for the Air Force, nine SHORAD systems and 16 VSHORAD systems for the Ground Forces.
At the initial stage, which will begin in 2023 and last until 2031, the Romanian Ministry of Defense intends to purchase six integrated VSHORAD systems for the Air Force and six SHORAD/VSHORAD systems for the SV. This initial stage is estimated at approximately 2.1 billion. euro.
The Ministry of Defense also plans to purchase 298 infantry fighting vehicles for the Ground Forces in the amount of almost 3 billion. euro. At the first stage, starting this year, over the next nine years, 246 BMP will be purchased, the cost of which is estimated at 2.5 billion. euro.
The SV Command intends to switch to NATO-standard 155 mm artillery and will proceed with the acquisition of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers necessary to equip five artillery divisions. The cost of the project is estimated at almost 2 billion. euro.
Phase I, which is to be launched in 2023, provides for the acquisition of a sufficient number of self-propelled guns to equip the first three divisions, the cost of which, including logistics and ammunition, is expected to be 1.15 billion. euro.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense also intends to purchase about 500 air-to-air missiles for the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters in service. In total, it is planned to receive 186 medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM worth $ 372 million and 299 short-range AIM-9X worth $ 239 million. The missiles will be purchased under an intergovernmental agreement with the United States.
T. Incijas noted that by the end of March 2023, Romania will have four Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems available and will purchase three more. The first two SAMs have already been delivered, two more should be delivered by the end of the first quarter.
As for the program for the purchase of armored combat vehicles based on Piranha-5, T. Incijash clarified that the project is a framework agreement for 227 vehicles with two contracts: one for 94 vehicles (concluded; the third batch has already been received), and the other for 133 vehicles with the first batch consisting of 47 BBM which should be delivered by the end of this year.
The Ministry also expressed its intention to purchase another 150 additional Piranha-5 BBMS. The delay in the program is caused by problems related to the organization of production in the country.
The program for the purchase and modernization of 32 multi-purpose F-16 aircraft depends on the financing of another project – the purchase of MLRS HIMARS. At best, both programs will be completed next year. Modernization of 32 former Norwegian aircraft and adaptation of their software to Romanian requirements is carried out in the USA.
"The acquisition of F-16 aircraft is an intermediate stage before receiving 5th generation fighters, that is, F-35 aircraft," T. Incijas said, adding that the first F-35 squadron could be deployed in Romania in the early 2030s.
Two important acquisition projects that the Romanian Defense Ministry is going to initiate concern the purchase of light armored tactical vehicles (1,059 units), brigade-level command posts and information systems for battalion-level command.
Projects for the acquisition of a battalion of Abrams tanks and a large package for the purchase of naval equipment will also be submitted to parliament for approval. The marine package will include submarines, minesweepers and modernization of ships with guided missile weapons. As for submarines, the Ministry would like to purchase them in 4-5 years. T. Incidchash did not specify the number of submarines required.
The head of the Armaments Department also announced a plan to start purchasing light small arms with 100% production in Romania from 2024.
As for the production of ammunition by state-owned enterprises, he assured that their production for old equipment is satisfactory. However, Romania still depends on some foreign suppliers of ammunition for more modern equipment.
The General recalled that all ammunition manufacturers in NATO or EU countries are currently under increasing pressure from governments to increase the production of ammunition, which increases the possibility of joint acquisition at the alliance level. At the moment, attempts are also being made in Romania to resume the production of gunpowder and explosives in order to reduce dependence on imports.
Romania's military spending
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis signed the law on the state budget for 2022 on December 28, 2021. A week earlier, the state budget was approved by the country's parliament.
According to Janes, the approved budget provides for the allocation of 25.9 billion rubles. lei ($6.14 billion) for defense – a nominal increase of 14% compared to 2021 f.g., real growth – by 11.2%.
The approved budget will support defense spending as a percentage of GDP at a level slightly above the NATO benchmark of 2%. Romania adopted a plan to achieve this indicator in 2017 (for reference: the budget for 2022 is 55% higher than in 2016).
Purchases of weapons and materiel have also been increasing in recent years, both in real terms and as a percentage of the total defense budget. In particular, under the article "capital expenditures", expenditures tripled in the period from 2015 to 2017, reaching 6.5 billion. lei. In 2022, the expenses under this item will amount to 8.6 billion rubles. lei. According to official forecasts, by 2025, capital expenditures in the defense budget will reach 14 billion rubles. lei. As a percentage of the defense budget, the share of capital expenditures will increase from 15% in 2015 to 32% in 2022 and, according to forecasts, will reach 41% in 2025, significantly exceeding the NATO target of 20%.
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Following consultations with members of the Supreme Council of National Defense of Romania, President Klaus Iohannis announced at a press conference on March 1, 2022, the need to increase the defense budget from 2% to 2.5% of GDP, explaining this by the events in Ukraine.
As reported by Janes.com, the leader of the National Liberal Party and chairman of the Romanian Senate, Florin Kicu, clarified that the increase in defense spending to the declared figure is envisaged from 2023 f.g..
In the previously approved budget of Romania for 2022, 25.9 billion rubles were allocated for defense. In the explanatory note to the state budget for 2022, it was noted that according to the medium-term forecast, defense spending will nominally increase by 8.2-9.3% over the next three years and by 2025 the defense budget it will amount to 2.3% of GDP.
It is obvious that the events around Ukraine will become a "trigger" for the accelerated growth of Romania's defense budget.
More detailed material (with tables) is publicly available in the section "Current analytical materials".
