Romania receives approval for the purchase of its first batch of F-35A aircraft

On Friday, September 13, 2024, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that the U.S. Department of State had approved the potential sale of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole aircraft to Romania, in a package worth up to 7.2 billion USD.

Photo: USAF

According to the published information, the government of Bucharest requested the acquisition of 32 conventional takeoff (CTOL) F-35A aircraft and 33 F135-PW-100 turbofan engines.

Additionally, the package includes the following non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items: AN/PYQ-10 SKL cryptographic modules, unspecified identification friend or foe (IFF) system equipment, encrypted communications, precision navigation, and cryptographic equipment, CAD/PAD flare and chaff dispensers, unspecified missile armament, weapon and ammunition components, aircraft and ammunition support and auxiliary equipment, integration and testing support and equipment, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, repair and return support, training aids and devices, spare parts, major and minor modifications, operational support, integrated computer systems, electronic warfare data support and reprogramming labs, the ECISAP (Electronic Combat International Security Assistance Program) support program, engine component improvement program (CIP) support, classified and unclassified software, development, delivery, and integration of software, classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation, classified and unclassified personnel training, training equipment and devices, transportation and aerial refueling assistance, facility support and infrastructure modernization, studies and surveys, contractor logistics support, engineering, technical, and logistics support services provided by the U.S. government and contractors (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics), and other related logistical and program support elements.

Analysis

On July 16 of this year, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr announced that the government intends to allocate up to 30 billion RON/6 billion EUR for the purchase of two squadrons of F-35A aircraft. However, the procedure will be split into two parts: between October of this year and January 2025, a contract for 32 aircraft is planned, with a further 16 to be purchased at a later stage. The Ministry of Defense received parliamentary approval for the purchase of 32 F-35A aircraft but later announced a plan to acquire a total of 48 units.

The Ministry expects that the first deliveries will begin in 2032-2033, and in the future, the F-35A will replace the F-16AM/BM aircraft at nearly a 1:1 ratio. Romania currently has 49 F-16s, including 17 Block 15 MLU (14 ex-Portuguese and 3 ex-American) and 32 ex-Norwegian Block 20 MLU, acquired in 2013, 2020, and 2022, respectively. The first 17 aircraft are grouped in Escadrila 53 Aviație Vânătoare (53rd Fighter Squadron) at the 86th Air Base, Locotenent Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță. The first ex-Norwegian aircraft was received on November 29, 2023, and three more arrived in the country on April 19, 2024. Currently, Norwegian pilots are training at the new European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) at the 86th base, and the first group of pilots completed their course on July 26 of this year.

Recently, on August 22 of this year, Romania received approval to purchase 186 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range missiles (with 66 planned for acquisition in the first phase) for 685 million RON/150 million USD. Additionally, Romania plans to acquire 60 AIM-9X Tactical Sidewinder Block II short-range missiles (out of 300 planned) for 410 million RON/90 million USD (353.9 million PLN) and 400 GBU-39/B SDB I guided bombs for 275 million RON/60 million USD. This weaponry will be compatible with both F-16 and F-35 aircraft.

As for the latest developments in the F-35 JSF program, there was a recent presentation of Poland’s first F-35A Husarz. Greece approved a deal to purchase 20 F-35A aircraft (with an option for 20 more). The manufacturer began delivering the first two F-35A jets to the USAF in the Technical Refresh 3 (TR3) configuration, which will support the implementation of the latest Block 4 version. Additionally, Pratt & Whitney (part of RTX Corporation) completed the initial technical review of the F135 engine core upgrade (ECU).