On Monday, April 27, 2026, Israeli company Elbit Systems opened a production facility for Watchkeeper X tactical unmanned aerial systems in the Romanian town of Chitila, in Ilfov County in the south of the country. It is Elbit Systems’ seventh production facility in Romania, marking another milestone in the company’s ongoing expansion in Europe and its long-standing cooperation with the Romanian defense industry.
Photos: Elbit Systems
The new facility underscores the company’s long-term commitment to local industrial cooperation, technological development, and strengthening European defense capabilities. Established as part of the Watchkeeper XR program, the facility creates integrated capabilities for the production, integration, testing, and in-service support of advanced unmanned platforms in Romania.
The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Romanian government and armed forces, as well as senior executives from Elbit Systems.
At the beginning of his address, Yoram Shmueli, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace, noted that the Watchkeeper XR had taken to the skies over Romania for the first time.
“The facility we inaugurate today is the seventh production site Elbit has established in Romania, a clear demonstration of our long-term commitment and confidence in the local ecosystem,” he said. Referring to the live UAV demonstration held during the event, he added, “what we deliver is not just a platform, but capability: systems that are reliable, mission-ready, and prepared to operate where and when they are needed.”
Video: Elbit Systems
The Chitila facility supports the production of one of the most advanced unmanned aircraft platforms in its class, integrating state-of-the-art technologies, operational experience, and lessons learned from recent conflicts around the world. These systems, built locally in Romania, will provide the Romanian Armed Forces with modern, operationally proven capabilities and a strong technological edge, while also strengthening the country’s self-sufficiency and sustainable development.
Elbit Systems has been operating in Romania for more than three decades, employing over 1,000 Romanian specialists across its facilities. In addition to defense production, the company’s continued investments exemplify its broader commitment to developing “Made in Romania” industrial capabilities, including technology transfer, manufacturing, and lifecycle support.
Watchkeeper XR for Romania
On December 21, 2021, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense announced the conclusion of a framework agreement with Elbit Systems for the delivery of seven sets comprising 21 Watchkeeper XR unmanned aerial vehicles, worth 1.89 billion RON (410.19 million USD). The first three sets were ordered on June 21, 2023, for approximately 180 million USD. Ultimately, six sets are to be delivered in a land configuration and one in a maritime configuration. In 2021, Aerostar became the local partner in the program.
Under the agreement, the company will deliver an upgraded Watchkeeper X tactical UAV with advanced capabilities, including the Spectro XR multispectral electro-optical system, new communications capabilities, and other systems, which has received the designation Watchkeeper XR.
Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2025 but have been delayed. The manufacturer currently states that deliveries will begin in the middle of this year.
The aircraft will go to the Romanian Air Force (Forțele Aeriene Române), which currently operates six sets of RQ-7 Shadow 600 reconnaissance UAVs. Meanwhile, the Romanian Land Forces (Forţele Terestre Române), which currently operate 10 sets of Boeing Insitu ScanEagle reconnaissance UAVs and an unknown number of AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven UAVs, are soon to receive three sets of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial systems, each comprising six aircraft – 18 aircraft in total – under an agreement dated April 25, 2023.
𝐄𝐥𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐔𝐀𝐒 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚.
Elbit Systems has inaugurated a new Unmanned Aerial Systems facility in Chitila, Romania – The company’s seventh production site in… pic.twitter.com/jwWy53Vw6N
— Elbit Systems (@ElbitSystemsLtd) April 27, 2026
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