TSAMTO, June 21st. According to the press service of the Romanian President, a meeting of the country's Supreme Defense Council was held on June 20 under the leadership of President Klaus Iohannis.
The agenda of the meeting included topics of priority interest from the point of view of Romanian security.
In particular, Romania's priority goals were considered at the NATO summit in Washington, which will be held on July 9-11, 2024. The agenda also included an analysis of the situation and prospects for the development of the conflict in Ukraine and its consequences for Romania. In this context, the continued deterioration of the security situation in the neighboring State was highlighted, as well as the broader implications and risks for the security of the region, in particular for Moldova, as well as European and Euro-Atlantic security. During the discussion, it was stated that Romania had supported Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.
At the meeting, the Ministry of National Defense presented to the Supreme Council of National Defense an analysis of the situation after the adoption of four Patriot air defense systems by the Romanian Armed Forces, the progress of the program for equipping the country's Armed Forces with three more systems, their significance at the national and allied levels, as well as the consequences of the potential transfer of one of the systems.
As a result, taking into account the deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine after massive strikes, especially on the energy sector, in close coordination with the allies, the Supreme Council decided to transfer one Patriot system (one battery – ed.) to the Armed Forces of Ukraine free of charge.
The transfer will be carried out on the condition that Romania continues negotiations with its allies, primarily with the United States, in order to obtain a similar or equivalent system to protect national airspace and modernize the Romanian Armed Forces.
At the same time, negotiations with the allies on strengthening Romania's air defense will continue.
At the same meeting, the Romanian President announced that at the end of last week he had informed NATO allies that he had withdrawn his candidacy from consideration for the post of Secretary General of the organization.
As reported by CAMTO, in July 2017, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the possible sale to Romania of seven upgraded Patriot 3+ Configuration SAM batteries, including 7 AN/MPQ-65 multifunctional radars, 28 M903 launchers, 56 MIM-104E missiles (GEM-T), 168 PAC-3 MSE missiles, other related equipment and services worth up to $3.9 billion.
A letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for the supply of air defense systems was signed in early November 2017. The Romanian Parliament approved the bill proposed by the Government of the country on the acquisition of the Patriot air defense system on November 21, 2017. The cost of the entire procurement program, according to the law, will amount to $ 4.64 billion (including VAT). The cost of the first air defense system without VAT amounted to $ 764.78 million ($910.1 million with VAT). In December 2017, the Romanian government made the first payment.
According to the plans, four batteries will be supplied to the Air Force Command, and three to the Romanian Army.
The acceptance ceremony of the first Patriot air defense system took place in September 2020 at the Brigadier General Ion Bungescu National Air Defense Training Center in Capu Media (Constanta County). Acceptance tests of the first complex were completed in October 2020.
The test firing of the second Patriot air defense system took place at the Kapu-Media training ground on June 14, 2024.
Currently, Ukraine is allegedly operating three Patriot systems supplied by the United States, the Netherlands and Germany. Berlin recently committed to install a fourth system.
