The United States Army is constantly participating in joint exercises with the Romanian military, including with M1 Abrams tanks.

Given that the United States announced an increased presence of American soldiers in Romania, an acquisition of Abrams tanks would be a logical choice for the Romanian army, increasing the degree of interoperability with the American army.

If it chooses Abrams, Romania can become the first NATO ally of the USA that will have in service the iconic American tank.

The infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) of the Romanian Land Forces

With the exception of tanks, the vehicles with the highest firepower of the Romanian army are the infantry fighting vehicles.

Until recently, for more than three decades, the main and only infantry fighting vehicle of the Romanian Ground Forces was the MLI-84 track armored vehicle.

Recently, the Romanian army also acquired a heavily armored 8x8 vehicle, Piranha 5, which will also be used as an infantry fighting vehicle.

The MLI-84 and MLI-84M Jderul tracked infantry fighting vehicles

The main infantry fighting vehicle of the Romanian Army is the MLI-84M Jderul, a modernized version of the standard MLI-84 variant.

The MLI-84M has an Oerlikon KBA automatic cannon and is equipped either with the 9M14-2T Maljutka-2T anti-tank guided missiles or with the high-performance Israeli Spike AT missiles.

The Romanian Land Forces currently owns a total of 101 MLI-84M infantry fighting vehicles.

In addition, the inventory also includes 23 standard MLI-84 vehicles, which may be subject to possible modernization in the future.

MLI-84 is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle produced in Romania and based on the Soviet BMP-1.

Compared to the BMP-1, the MLI-84 comes with many modifications, including an elongated chassis.

Piranha 5 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle

In 2017, Romania announced the acquisition of 227 Piranha 5 vehicles from the GDELS-Mowag company for an amount of 895 million euros.

The agreement provided for the first 30 vehicles to be built in Switzerland and the remaining 197 to be assembled at the Bucharest Mechanical Plant (Ro: Uzina Mecanica Bucuresti - UMB).

Piranha 5 is a new heavy 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier, offering high level of protection and ideal for use as an infantry fighting vehicle.

It is one of the newest and most modern armored vehicles in the world, being in the same category with the Boxer 8x8 manufactured by Rheinmetall and with the new Israeli Eitan 8x8 armored personnel carrier.

Once in service with the Romanian army, Piranha 5 will have the role of IFV along with the MLI-84 tracked vehicles.

Romanian Piranha 5s are equipped with additional armor modules being one of the best protected 8x8 troop carriers in the world.

Romania has opted for equipping Piranha V 8x8 armoured vehicles with the Elbit UT-30 turret fitted with a 30 mm cannon.

The UT-30 turrets are produced in Romania at Magurele, in a new facility opened by Elbit.

The hulls and the traction systems of the vehicles will be produced in Switzerland, while the Bucharest Mechanical Plant will performe the operations of sandblasting, painting, as well as the final assembly of all components.

Although the Romanian Armed Forces has an impressive arsenal of approximately 2000 Spike ER and LR missiles, these modern anti-tank weapons will not be integrated at the moment on the turret of the Romanian Piranha 5 transporters.

The first six vehicles were supposed to enter operational service by end of 2017, but the entire program suffered major delays.

The Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) of the Romanian Army

The Romanian Army owns a huge fleet of armored personnel carriers, representing the most numerous type of armored vehicle in the Land Forces.

The Land Forces have over 1,000 armored personnel carriers in different configurations such as 8x8 and 4x4 wheeled troop carriers, as well as tracked ones.

The vast majority of the Romanian armoured troop carriers are amphibious vehicles of the TAB series.

The TAB series armoured personnel carriers were manufactured in Romania during communism, based on the Soviet BTR series troop carriers.

Similar to the Romanian tank fleet, the majority of the Romanian armored personnel carriers are obsolete, requiring urgent replacement.

Except for the recently ordered Piranha 5 transporters, most of which will have the role of MLI, the most modern Romanian armored transporters are 43 Piranha IIIC armored vehicles.

The renewal of the troops carrier fleet has been planned for several years, but it has not materialized so far.

The program called "Transportorul blindat pentru trupe (TBT) 8x8" (EN: 8x8 Armored Personnel Carrier) provided for the acquisition or development of a new amphibious APC for the Romanian army.

This program had materialized in the AGILIS 8x8 APC, but it seems that the project was canceled due to misunderstandings between the Romanian authorities and the partner company Rheinmetall.

Piranha IIIC 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier

The most modern 8x8 armored personnel carriers of the Romanian army, with the exception of the new Piranha 5s, are the Piranha IIIC armored vehicles which are also manufactured by the Swiss company Mowag, currently owned by GDELS.

Romania has purchased 31 Piranha IIIC carriers to be sent for use to Romanian troops stationed in theaters of operations.

But due to the problems encountered with the integration of the turret, these carriers were no longer sent abroad.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Defense purchased another 12 Piranha IIIC derivatives, bringing the total number to 43 units.

All the 43 Piranha IIIC vehicles are currently in operational service with the 26th Infantry Battalion from Craiova.

The TAB series of Amphibious Armored Personnel Carriers

Most of the Romanian armored personnel carriers currently in service with the Land Forces are the old amphibious vehicles from the TAB series.

The Romanian Army has approximately 1,000 TAB 8x8 and 4x4 amphibious personnel carriers, including the TAB B33 Zimbru (8x8), TAB-77 (8x8), TAB-71 (8x8) and the 4x4 ABC-79M (TABC-79).

The B33 Zimbru (Bison) 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier

TAB B33 Zimbru is the last mass-produced armoured vehicle of the TAB series, being based on the Soviet BTR-80 armored personnel carrier.

B33 Zimbru is an 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier, the Romanian army having a number of 69 units in total.

The TAB-77 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier

TAB-77 (Transportor Amfibiu Blindat Model 1977 / EN: Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier Model 1977) is a Romanian 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier based on the Soviet BTR-77 APC.

The Romanian Army has a total of 155 TAB-77 vehicles in its inventory.

The TAB-71 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier

TAB-71 is a Romanian 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier, a modified version of the Soviet BTR-60, manufactured under license in Romania.

A total of 401 TAB-71 amphibious APCs are still in the inventory of the Romanian Land Forces.

The ABC-79M 4x4 Armoured Personnel Carrier

ABC-79M, also known as TABC-79 is the 4x4 version of the TAB-77 8x8 armored personnel carrier.

It is an amphibious vehicle designed to be used in the reconnaissance role.

The Romanian Army has a total of 401 4x4 ABC-79M APCs.

The MLVM (Masina de Lupta a Vanatorilor de Munte) Tracked Armoured Personnel Carrier

In addition to the wheeled armored personnel carriers, the Romanian Army also has a tracked model of an armoured personnel carrier.

This is the "Masina de Lupta a Vanatorilor de Munte" (MLVM) which translates into English as "Infantry Fighting Vehicle of Mountain Huntsmen".

As the name suggests, this vehicle is used exclusively by the Mountain Hunters (RO: Vanatorii de Munte), elite troops of the Romanian Land Forces.

The Mountain Hunters have 76 MLVM tracked fighting vehicles, armed with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun.

MLVM is a relatively light armored vehicle, weighing 9 tons, offering protection against 7.62 mm weapons.

SAUR Series of 8x8 Armored Personnel Carriers

The Romanian national company ROMARM developed in the mid-2000s a new series of amphibious armoured personnel carriers.

Saur was a new Romanian design, distinguishing itself from the old TAB family of armoured personnel carriers which was derived from the Soviet BTR series.

Saur 1 8x8 Armored Personnel Carrier

In 2006, ROMARM developed the Saur 1 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC).

Manufactured at Automecanica Moreni, Saur 1 was presented for the first time at Expomil 2007.

Saur 1 weighed 13.5 tons and had a protection level of STANAG Level 1, which could be upgraded to STANAG Level 2 by adding additional armor modules.

Saur 1 was powered by a 275 hp Cummins diesel engine and could reach a top speed of 100 km/h on road and 10 km/h in water. Its operational range was estimated at 700 km.

Saur 1 represented the first model in the Saur series, ROMARM and Automecanica Moreni soon presenting a much improved model.

Saur 2 8x8 Armored Personnel Carrier

Saur 2 came with major improvements over the previous model.

Having a total weight of 16 tons, it also had a better level of protection.

Saur 2 has a protection level of STANAG 4569 Level 2, 2a under the wheels and STANAG 4569 Level 1 under the chassis.

Saur 2 is powered by a more powerful engine with 326 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 100 km/h while having an operating range of 600 km.

Also, being an amphibious APC, it can move in water with a maximum speed of 10 km/h.

Saur 2 had been offered to the Romanian Army, but unfortunately for the Romanian company Automecani Moreni, the Ministry of National Defense did not order these carriers, choosing instead to buy 30 Piranha IIIC armored vehicles from the Swiss company Mowag.

The revival of Saur 2?

At the beginning of 2020, a good news for the Romanian defense industry appeared in the media.

The Egyptians would be interested in the Saur 2 armored personnel carrier.

A series of agreements were signed between PATROMIL and ROMARM representatives with the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI).

The agreements cover various areas of military-industrial cooperation, but the headline is that Egypt would be particularly interested in the Saur 2 amphibious armored personnel carrier.

A requirement of the Egyptians would be the transfer of technology for this carrier to be manufactured in Egypt, a transfer of technology that Romania is willing to offer.

An eventual acquisition of Saur 2 by Egypt would be a great success for the Romanian defense industry.

Egypt has one of the largest armies in the world and it is very likely that a possible Egyptian order will include hundreds of Saur 2 vehicles.

Moreover, other allied countries of Egypt and part of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, such as Algeria and Tunisia, could also purchase this carrier.

Also, Saur 2 could finally enter service with the Romanian Army in the context of the indefinite postponement of the TBT 8x8 program.

Transportorul blindat pentru trupe (TBT) 8x8 (EN: 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier) Program

The "Transportorul blindat pentru trupe (TBT) 8x8" (EN: 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier) program is a major program of the Romanian Army, planned for years, which provides for the acquisition or development of a new modern amphibious armored personnel carrier for the Land Forces.

Dating back to 2007 when it was declared a strategic program, the "8x8 TBT Program" was declared a priority program by the Ministry of National Defense in 2011.

After the development of Saur 2, Automecanica Moreni started working on the project of a new armored personnel carrier from the Saur series.

Saur 3, the Automecanica Moreni project, was to be an amphibious 8x8 armored personnel carrier with an estimated weight of 21 tons, offering a Level 3 STANAG protection level.

Due to lack of funds, Saur 3 did not materialize into a prototype.

In 2014, within the TBT 8x8 Program, the "Research Agency for Military Technique and Technologies" (RO: Agentia de cercetare pentru tehnica si tehnologii militare - ACTTM) together with Automecanica Moreni developed a prototype of an APC hull in order to test the degree of protection offered by it.

Tested at the explosion of 10 kg of TNT, the hull prototype obtained a protection level of STANAG 4569 Level 4A under the wheels and Level 4B under the chassis.

Within the TBT 8x8 strategic program, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense also received offers from the Iveco and Patria companies.

The Italians from Iveco offered the Iveco SuperAV while the Finns from Patria offered the Patria AMV armored personnel carrier.

Both Iveco and Patria promised local production of the armoured vehicles in Romania.

But neither of these two offers was selected, and in 2016 came a surprise announcement about the future of the 8x8 TBT program.

The Romanian state co-opted the German company Rheinmetall, the manufacturer of Boxer 8x8, as a partner in the development of the TBT 8x8 project.

The AGILIS 8x8 Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)

On June, 14th 2017, SC Uzina Automecanica Moreni and Rheinmetall Land Systeme GmBH signed the establishment of the joint venture Romanian Military Vehicle Systems S.A. (RMVS).

This company would be owned in equal proportion by the Romanian state through the Ministry of Finance and by the German company Rheinmetall.

Romanian Military Vehicle Systems S.A. (RMVS), would manufacture at Automecanica Moreni the future AGILIS 8x8 amphibious armoured personnel carrier.

AGILIS 8x8 was to use the hull and protection solutions developed by Automecanica Moreni and ACTTM, and a driveline provided by Rheinmetall.

The financing of the research, development (R&D) and homologation of the future armored personnel carrier was estimated at 230 million euros and was to be provided by Romania.

The intellectual property over the new TBT 8x8 AGILIS were to be fully owned by the Romanian state.

It was initially planned that AGILIS would be built in 600 units, including derivatives.

But this project went into the shadows with the unexpected acquisition of 227 Piranha 5 8x8 armored personnel carriers.

Following the acquisition of Piranha 5, which is not an amphibious vehicle, the Romanian Army need for amphibious 8x8 armoured personnel carriers was revised down to 342 units.

What followed is somewhat unclear and illogical, but it is certain that at present the AGILIS 8x8 program is practically canceled, although there has been no firm official statement in this regard.

A possible Piranha 4 derivative instead of the AGILIS 8x8

Currently, there is silence over the TBT 8x8 program, but it is clear that the decision to purchase Piranha 5 vehicles had the effect of canceling the AGILIS 8x8 project.

Unofficially, the American company General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) became favorite to co-develop with Romania an amphibious APC as part of the TBT 8x8 program.

According to the RomaniaMilitary website, GDELS have proposed the manufacturing at Automecanica Moreni of a Piranha 4 8x8 derivative.

Supposedly GDELS offered the same conditions as Rheinmetall, the most important being that the intellectual rights over the future armoured personnel carrier would belong entirely to Romania.

It remains to be seen in the near future what will be the outcome of the 8x8 TBT program and what will be the future amphibious 8x8 armoured personnel carrier that the Romanian Army needs so much.

A possible 4x4 Armored Personnel Carrier derived from TBT 8x8

In addition to the much-needed 8x8 amphibious APC, the Romanian Army also needs a 4x4 derivative to replace the old ABC-79M 4x4 TAB vehicle.

More than likely, the future 4x4 troop carrier will be a derivative of the future TBT 8x8 carrier.

MRAPs and 4x4 Multifunctional Armored Vehicles of the Romanian Army

The Romanian Army also has Cougar 6x6 and MaxxPro Dash MRAP vehicles offered by the United States for use in the theaters of operations.

Due to the lack of an adequate troops carrier deployed in the theaters of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States offered Romania, as well as other allies, MRAP vehicles for the protection of the troops.

As the name suggests, MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles are ideal in combat environments such as Afghanistan where the Talibans use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted on roads to attack convoys of vehicles.

MRAP vehicles have a "V" shaped floor so that in the event of an explosion of a device under the vehicle, the force of the explosion is dispersed on the lateral sides.

Currently, Romania has five Cougar 6x6 vehicles and 60 MaxxPro Dash units.

Regarding the 4x4 armored multirole vehicles, Romania has 322 Humvees (HMMWV) and 100 URO VAMTACs, a vehicle of Spanish origin similar to the American Humvee.

Also, in much smaller numbers, the army also has 16 Panhard PVP vehicles and three Wolf armored vehicles.

Some of these 4x4 armored vehicles are used by the Military Police.

The armored versions of Humvee M1113 and M1165 are also used by Romanian troops deployed in Afghanistan as part of the ISAF mission.

Military Trucks of the Romanian Armed Forces

The Romanian Army also has an impressive number of trucks, mostly old Romanian DAC and ROMAN military trucks.

Military trucks are a necessity of any army, being used to transport troops and various military equipment.

Perhaps not as visible or impressive as combat armor, trucks are an important part of the logistics and proper functioning of an army, whether they have to transport troops or tow howitzers and other weapons systems.

DAC and ROMAN Trucks

The Romanian military is still largely based on the old Romanian DAC and ROMAN military trucks.

DAC trucks are available in different 8x8, 6x6 and 4x4 versions.

DAC chassis are also used for the LAROM and APR-40/APRA-40 reactive artillery systems, some of which benefiting of a reinforced cabin.

Currently, the Romanian Army has approximately 470 Romanian-made trucks, of which 352 are DAC trucks, and the remaining 124 are ROMAN trucks.

The vast majority of them are old trucks, needing to be replaced urgently.

The new Iveco trucks of the Romanian Army

The program of renewal the Romanian army's truck fleet is also a major program currently underway.

The Romanian Army estimated the need for trucks at the impressive number of 2,900 units.

Having currently about 200 Iveco trucks bought in different tranches, Romania decided to go further with the Italian company and ordered almost 3,000 Iveco trucks.

In 2020, the Romanian Ministry of Defense signed a first contract with Iveco for 942 military trucks, part of a broader agreement that provides for the future construction of 2,902 military trucks in various configurations.

In value of over 216 million euros, this first contract stipulates that starting with unit 301, the construction of trucks will be carried out in Romania.

In August 2020, Iveco Defense Vehicles started the construction of a new factory in Romania, where some of the future Romanian truck components will be produced.

Also, the trucks will be assembled in Romania.

More precisely, armored and unarmored cabins will be locally-built while production lines will be installed for the final assembly of the trucks.

The new Iveco factory located in Petresti, will have an area of ​​9,000 square meters and a production capacity of approximately 440 trucks per year.

Romanian towed howitzers and future self-propelled howitzers for the Romanian Army

Turning to artillery, here too the Romanian Army has a lot to improve, being much better in terms of reactive artillery than the classic one.

Regarding the classical artillery, the ground troops have only towed howitzers, and not a single self-propelled howitzer.

But Romania has developed a self-propelled howitzer on wheels in the past and plans to purchase an armored tracked SpH system in the near future.

The Romanian ATROM self-propelled howitzer project

In the 1990s, when military cooperation with Israeli companies took off, there was a project for a self-propelled wheeled howitzer for the Romanian Army.

ATROM, which was equipped with a 155 mm and 52 caliber ATMOS cannon, was to be the Romanian version of the Israeli ATMOS 2000 self-propelled howitzer.

The Israeli howitzer ATMOS was installed on the chassis of a ROMAN 26.360 DFAEG 6x6 truck with armored cabin.

Unfortunately, like so many other Romanian projects, ATROM also was doomed to failure.

Three prototypes were built, but the Romanian self-propelled howitzer never entered series production.

Possible future self-propelled howitzer for the Romanian Army

A few years ago, the Ministry of Defense published an RFI document showing interest in acquiring a tracked self-propelled howitzer.

Lately no news regarding this project have come to surface, but it is possible that the project will return to the agenda in the near future.

If this program is launched in the future, the Romanian army would have several options to choose from, including new or used systems.

Possible variants to consider include the American M109 howitzer, which is available in various modernization variants, the German PzH 2000 system recently chosen by Hungary, which ordered 24 units, or the K9 Thunder, a high-performance self-propelled howitzer developed by the South Koreans.

There is also a fourth option, the AHS Krab, a Polish-made howitzer that uses the K9 Thunder chassis and the turret of the British AS-90M Braveheart system.

Mortars of the Romanian Army

The classic artillery from the Romanian Army's inventory is completed by three types of mortars: the 120 mm Model 1982 mortar, the 82 mm Model 1977 mortar and the 60 mm 1988 model mortar.

The AGILIS program also provided for the development of a variant equipped with a 120 mm caliber mortar.

AGILIS being most likely canceled, it is expected that in the future, when a new amphibious 8x8 troop carrier will be finally chosen, it will also be available in a version equipped with a 120 mm mortar.

The Reactive Artillery of the Romanian Army

Turning to reactive artillery, the Romanian Army is much better in this regard compared to classical artillery and the future looks even more promising.

Currently, the Romanian Army has 54 LAROM multiple rocket launchers plus 135 APRA-40/APR 40 systems, and recently ordered the high-performance HIMARS multiple missile launchers.

The Romanian LAROM multiple rocket launcher

LAROM is a Romanian multiple missile launcher, installed on a DAC-25.360 6x6 truck, which can use both 160 mm LAR Mk.4 missiles and 122 mm caliber missiles.

LAROM was for many years the most advanced rocket launcher of the Romanian army, but this role will be taken over by the HIMARS systems, which will soon enter service with the Romanian Land Forces.

Unfortunately, LAROM is not used to its full potential. The LAR-160 launcher installed on the DAC truck can also use the Israeli EXTRA (EXTended Range Artillery) missiles.

EXTRA missiles have a range of 150 km, much longer than the current missiles currently available on LAROM.

The current LAR-160 missiles have a maximum firing range of 45 km, while 122 mm missiles can hit targets at a maximum distance of 20 km.

Also, ACTTM and ROMARM are developing 122 mm missiles with thermobaric warheads.

In total, 54 LAROM multiple rocket launchers are in the active service of the Romanian Army.

The Romanian APRA-40 and APR 40 multiple rocket launchers

The Romanian Land Forces also owns 135 APRA-40 and APR 40 multiple missile launchers.

These are the precursors of the modernized LAROM systems.

APRA reactive artillery systems use 122 mm missiles.

The HIMARS multiple rocket launcher

In 2017, the United States State Department authorized the sale to Romania of 54 HIMARS systems, including 54 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.

On February 26, 2018, Romania signed the contract for the acquisition of the HIMARS systems.

For $ 1.5 billion, the contract includes the purchase of 54 HIMARS launchers, 81 M31A1 Unitary missiles, 81 M30A1 Alternative warhead missiles and 54 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a lightweight multiple rocket launcher mounted on an FMTV 6x6 truck chassis.

HIMARS uses the same rocket pod as the M270 MLRS but instead of two pods like on M270, only one pod is fitted on the HIMARS FMTV 6x6 truck.

A HIMARS launcher can be armed with six M31A1 or M30A1 rockets or with a single ATACMS tactical ballistic missile.

With the arrival of the HIMARS systems in the country, the Romanian Army will have one of the most capable reactive artillery systems in the world.

The MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missile

Acquiring ATACMS missiles, Romania re-enters the club of states that possess tactical ballistic missiles.

The MGM-140 ATACMS is a tactical ballistic missile with a range of up to 300 km.

ATACMS is an extremely important capability for the Romanian Ground Forces, representing a strong deterrent to a potential enemy.

Romania also operated in the past the famous Soviet SCUD ballistic tactical missiles.

The Romanian Army operated 18 Scud-B launchers which were withdrawn from operational service in the mid-1990s.

The Anti-tank missile capabilities of the Romanian Army

The Romanian Army has several types of anti-tank missiles, the most modern of which are the Israeli-made Spike missiles.

The Romanian military is equipped with Spike ER (Extended Range) and Spike LR (Long Range) missiles.

No less than 2,000 of such anti-tank missiles are found in the arsenal of the Romanian Armed Forces.

Spike ER and LR are installed on the IAR 330 SOCAT attack helicopters and on the MLI-84M Jderul infantry fighting vehicles.

Unfortunately, at least in the first phase, these high-performance anti-tank missiles will not be integrated on the turret of the newest Romanian infantry fighting vehicle, the Piranha 5 8x8.

In addition to the Spike launchers integrated on the attack helicopters and infantry fighting vehicles, the Armed Forces also have portable Spike launchers for combat troops.

The army also has other anti-tank systems such as AG-7, the 73 mm AG-9 recoilless launcher, 9K111 Fagot anti-tank missiles, as well as 24 M72A5 LAW anti-tank launchers used by the special forces.

AG-7 (Grenade Launcher 7) is the Romanian version of RPG-7, widely available in the Romanian Army.

The Romanian Military Technology and Research Agency (Agentia de Cercetare pentru Tehnica si Tehnologii Militare - ACTTM) has developed three types of thermobaric warhead ammunition for projectiles used by the AG-7 launcher.

Anti-tank missile launch vehicles in service with the Romanian Army

The Romanian Land Forces also has two types of anti-tank missile launch vehicles.

In total it has 90 9P122 Malyutka vehicles and 48 9P148 Konkurs vehicles.

Both 9P122 Malyutka and 9P148 Konkurs systems are basically BRDM-2 vehicles equipped with anti-tank missiles.

The Anti-tank guns of the Romanian Army

The anti-tank equipment of the Romanian Army is completed by the 100 mm M1977 anti-tank cannon.

The A407/M1977 100 mm caliber cannon is the main anti-tank cannon of the Romanian Ground Forces.

The gun used by the TR-85 tanks is a version of this anti-tank cannon.

A variant of the 100 mm M1977 cannon is also installed on the river fleet monitors of the Romanian Naval Forces.

The Mihail Kogălniceanu-class and Smardan-class river monitors are each equipped with a 100 mm A430 cannon.

The Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Systems of the Romanian Armed Forces

A major component of any armed force is represented by the air defense systems.

These surface-to-air missile systems are the main deterrent to a possible air attack.

Currently, Romania is in a transition phase regarding ground-to-air missile systems.

Relying so far on old systems of Soviet origin, the Romanian Armed Forces are preparing to completely renew all their air defense systems.

Romania will built a very modern layered anti-aircraft defense that will include all types of air defense systems, starting from GDF-003 Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns to mobile MIM-104 Patriot long-range surface-to-air systems.

MIM-104 Patriot, the main component of Romania's future stratified air defense system

In April 2017, the then Chief of Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca, the current Minister of Defense, announced the most expensive military acquisition program in the history of Romania.

Romania intended to buy the American MIM-104 Patriot air defense system for an estimated amount of approximately 4 billion dollars.

On July 11, 2017, the US State Department approved the sale of MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to Romania.

With an estimated cost of $ 3.9 billion, Romania was to buy seven Patriot Configuration-3+ modernized fire units including among others:

- 7 AN/MPQ-65 radar sets
- 7 AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations
- 13 antenna mast groups
- 28 M903 launching stations
- 56 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-TBM (GEM-T) missiles
- 168 Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles
- 7 Electrical Power Plants (EPP) III

The Patriot systems purchased by Romania are the 3+ configuration, the latest hardware and software configuration available at the time of purchase, the same configuration in the service of the United States Army.

The MIM-104 Patriot is a mobile long-range air defense and anti-ballistic defense system capable of intercepting aircrafts, drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

In November 2017, Raytheon signed a memorandum of understanding with S.C. Aerostar Bacau SA through which the Romanian company will produce components and subassemblies, deal with the production, repair and refurbishment of electrical and control assemblies, as well as perform maintenance services including the supply of spare parts, technical assistance, system upgrades and periodic maintenance.

Of the seven fire units ordered, four will enter service with the Romanian Air Force, and the remaining three will be operated by the Romanian Land Forces.

Romania purchased a total of 224 interceptors, including 56 PAC-2 GEM-T missiles intended mainly for intercepting aircrafts and 168 PAC-3 MSE missiles, the latter being mainly intended for intercepting ballistic missiles.

Patriot is not the only American surface-to-air missile system owned by Romania.

The Romanian Air Force also has eight batteries of MIM-23 Hawk medium-range surface-to-air missile systems.

This system is the predecessor of the newer Patriot, the US military completely replacing the MIM-23 Hawk systems with the more advanced MIM-104 Patriot systems.

The Hawk surface-to-air missile system of the Romanian Air Force (RoAF)

Romania acquired the Hawk anti-aircraft systems from the Netherlands, and introduced them into active service in 2003.

The eight MIM-23 Hawk batteries of the Romanian Armed Forces are upgraded to the Hawk PIP-III R standard and include 72 launchers and 224 missiles.

Hawk PIP-III R is not the latest upgrade version available for this system, the latest version being Hawk XXI.

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense had planned to upgrade the Hawk batteries to version XXI, but this has not happened so far.

The good news is that MIM-104 Patriot systems and MIM-23 Hawk systems can be easily integrated to operate in a complementary way.

Between 1st and 12th of November 2016, the bilateral Romanian-American Patriot Shock V exercise took place in the Capu Midia training ground.

At this exercise in which the Romanians participated with a Hawk PIP III R battery and the Americans with a Patriot battery, the integration of the two systems was achieved in order to engage the aerial targets and demonstrate their interoperability.

Certainly Romania will integrate the Patriot and Hawk systems in the near future, with the Hawk most likely to be upgraded to the XXI standard for maximum efficiency.

Romania will soon launch another extremely important program, the one for the acquisition of several SHORAD/VSHORAD systems which, together with Patriot and Hawk, will form a layered anti-aircraft and anti-ballistics defense.

The SHORAD/VSHORAD Program

By purchasing seven Patriot batteries and integrating them with the eight Hawk batteries already in service, Romania will have an integrated medium and long range anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic defense system.

But in order to achieve a complete stratified air defense shield, the Romanian Armed Forces also need modern short-range and very short-range surface-to-air missile systems.

Romania is preparing to launch an integrated program for acquiring both Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) systems as well as Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) systems.

The Romanian SHORAD / VSHORAD program, initially estimated at 2.1 billion euros, was approved by the Romanian Parliament in 2017.

The program provided for the acquisition of 21 SHORAD / VSHORAD systems with a total value of 2.1 billion euros, of which the cost of the SHORAD systems was estimated at 1.37 billion euros.

Several companies have shown interest in this program, making offers to Romania and signing memorandums with various Romanian defense companies for the local production of various elements of the systems.

Thus, the companies that made offers in this program were the European consortium MBDA, the American company Raytheon, the German company Diehl Defense and the Israeli company Rafael.

The MBDA offer: VL Mica missile systems and Mistral portable systems

The European consortium MBDA offered within the SHORAD / VSHORAD program the VL MICA missile system and the Mistral portable systems.

The VL Mica short-range missiles are also available as part of a ground-based mobile air defense system.

The vertical-launched VL Mica missiles have a range of up to 20 km, reaching an altitude of 9 km and a speed of Mach 3.

The Mistral missiles can be launched from portable MANPADS systems, having an effective range of up to 6 km.

MBDA signed a memorandum with ROMARM for the manufacture of components of the Mistral and Mica missiles at Electromecanica Ploiesti, which would also deal with the maintenance of the missiles in case Romania chooses the MBDA offer.

Rayheon offer: NASAMS systems with AMRAAM missiles and Stinger portable systems

The American company Raytheon offered to Romania the NASAMS ground-air system that uses AMRAAM missiles, missiles that Romania already uses on F-16 multirole fighters.

In addition to NASAMS, Raytheon also offered the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS.

Diehl Defense offer: the system based on the IRIS-T SL and IRIS-T missiles

The German company Diehl Defense offered the system based on the IRIS-T SLS and IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missiles.

Like MBDA, Diehl Defense promised Romania a considerable technology transfer and the production of missiles at Electromecanica Ploiesti.

Rafael offer: SPYDER system with Derby and Python 5 missiles and Iron Dome system with Tamir interceptors

The Israelis from Rafael are also very interested in Romania's SHORAD / VSHORAD program.

Rafael offers the SPYDER anti-aircraft system, equipped with Derby and Python 5 missiles, plus the Iron Dome system that uses Tamir interceptors.

Rafael also signed a partnership with Romaero for the production in Romania of various elements of the missiles offered.

The SHORAD / VSHORAD is a priority program of the Romanian Armed Forces that will be officially launched very soon.

Following the reanalysis of the project, the Romanian Ministry of National Defense decided that a larger number of SHORAD / VSHORAD systems was needed.

Thus, more recently, the program provides for the acquisition of a total of 27 systems compared to the 21 originally planned in 2017.

As a result, the estimated value of the entire program increased from 2.1 billion euros plus VAT to 2.7 billion euros without VAT.

Also, the acquisition of portable SAM systems seems to have been separated from the SHORAD / VSHORAD program.

Portable MANPADS surface-to-air missile systems

Thus, the Romanian Ministry of Defense wants to buy 138 portable MANPADS systems for the Air Force and the Naval Forces.

The contract for these very short-range portable systems is estimated at 307 million euros plus VAT.

The current MANPADS type systems in the inventory of the Romanian military are the CA-94 portable launchers in number of 282, including the modernized version CA-94M.

CA-94 is the Romanian version of the Soviet portable launcher 9K32 Strela-2 (NATO name: SA-7 Grail) locally-produced under license.

In addition to the 282 CA-94 launchers, Romania also owns six original 9K32 Strela-2 launchers.

With the exception of the Hawk and Patriot systems, the first elements of which have begun to arrive in the country, Romania's air defense is currently provided by the old Soviet S-75 Volhov, 2K12 Kub and 9K33 Osa missile systems and the CA-95 surface-to-air missile system, the Romanian version of Strela-1.

S-75 Volhov missile systems of the Romanian Air Force

The Romanian Air Force is equipped with the long-range, high-altitude S-75M3 Volhov anti-aircraft system.

The Soviet designation of this system is S-75 Dvina, while the NATO reporting name is SA-2 Guideline.

The Romanian Air Force currently operates six batteries out of a total of 18-20 delivered by the USSR between 1963 and 1964.

The Romanian S-75 systems have been modernized three times so far, hence the S-75M3 designation.

S-75 Dvina is a strategic surface-to-air missile system developed by the Soviet Union between 1953 and 1957.

Produced since 1957, the missiles used by the S-75 system have a range of 45 km and can fly at a speed of Mach 3.5 up to an altitude of 25 km.

2K12 Kub

The Romanian Armed Forces also operates the 2K12 Kub medium-range surface-to-air missile systems.

Known in NATO terminology as the SA-6 Gainful, this short-to-medium range mobile system was designed to protect ground forces from air strikes. 2K12 Kub went into production in 1967.

Romania has 40 2K12 Kub vehicles comprising eight batteries.

9K33 OSA

Another system in the service of the Romanian Armed Forces, this time with short range and low altitude is 9K33 Osa (NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko).

Romania operates an improved system, the 9K33M3 model, also called OSA AKM, with a total of 28 vehicles totaling four batteries.

CA-95

CA-95 is a mobile air defense system of Romanian production, being the domestic version of the Soviet Strela-1 system (NATO reporting name: SA-9 Gaskin).

Romania's 9K31 Strela-1 surface-to-air missiles were manufactured under license in the country, and installed on TABC-79 4x4 armored carriers, as opposed to the original Soviet version that uses BRDM-2 vehicles.

CA-95 is an extremely mobile system, TABC-79 being an amphibious troop carrier.

The Romanian Armed Forces are equipped with 48 CA-95 anti-aircraft systems.

Anti-aircraft artillery

Anti-aircraft artillery systems are very effective against low-altitude aerial targets such as helicopters or ground attack and CAS aircrafts.

Overall, the Romanian Armed Forces are well equipped in terms of air-aircraft artillery having some modern systems in addition to some older ones.

The Romanian Armed Forces have both towed and self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery systems.

Flakpanzer Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

Flakpanzer Gepard is a self-propelled anti-aircraft system equipped with two 35 mm Oerlikon KDA automatic cannons.

Entering operational service with the West Germany in the 1970s, the Gepard SPAAG uses the chassis of the Leopard 1 tank.

The Romanian Army currently has 35 Gepard-type self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

In total, 42 Gepard units were donated to Romania by Germany from Bundeswehr stocks, 36 of them entering active service, and seven kept for spare parts.

Anti-aircraft guns

In addition to the Flakpanzer Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery systems, the Romanian Armed Forces are also equipped with classic towed anti-aircraft guns.

The most modern such system is the Oerlikon GDF-003, an anti-aircraft gun that uses two 35 mm automatic cannons.

Romania purchased 72 such systems from Switzerland.

Starting with 2017, the Romanian Army is part of the Multinational Brigade from Poland, where 100 soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade "Rovine" from Craiova, are deployed with an Oerlikon anti-aircraft artillery battery consisting of six systems.

Also, Polish soldiers equipped with KTO Rosomak 8x8 armoured personnel carriers are part of the Multinational Brigade established in Craiova.

In addition to the high-performance Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns, the Romanian Armed Forces also have other similar older systems such as the M 1980/88 anti-aircraft guns, and the ZU-2 or S-60 systems.

The Romanian military has in inventory 300 M 1980/88 systems with two 30 mm guns and 250 S-60 anti-aircraft guns of 57 mm caliber.

Regarding the ZU-2 anti-aircraft guns, it is not known exactly how many are still in the inventory of the Romanian military.

The Aegis Ashore missile shield in Deveselu, Romania

The air defense of Romania and of the whole of Europe is completed by the Aegis Ashore base from Deveselu, part of the American anti-ballistic missile shield in Europe, which also includes an Aegis Ashore base in Poland and a powerful radar installed in Turkey.

The anti-ballistic system installed at Deveselu does not belong to the Romanian Armed Forces, Romania being only the host country.

It is owned by the United States and is served by the US military, but passed under NATO command.

The entire system consists of two Aegis Ashore bases, the one in Romania, and a second similar one installed in Poland at Redzikowo.

The system installed in Romania is practically the land-based version of the Aegis system installed on the Arleigh Burke class destroyers and on the Ticonderoga class cruisers of the United States Navy.

Using very long range SM3 interceptors, this anti-missile shield protects European allies from possible medium-to-long range ballistic missile attacks.

The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptors have four stages and have an operational range between 900 km (Block IA/B) and 2,500 km (Block IIA).

SM-3 interceptors are intended to intercept the intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM) outside the atmosphere.

In their trajectory the IRBMs leave the atmosphere, to then re-enter the atmosphere at very high speeds on their way to the designated target.

The RIM-161 SM-3 was developed primarily as an anti-ballistic missile but also has anti-satellite capabilities, being successfully tested against a satellite in the lower part of low Earth orbit.

Motivated as a defensive system designed primarily to intercept possible ballistic missiles launched by Iran, the installation of the American anti-ballistic shield in Eastern Europe has been widely criticized by Russia over the years.

Russia accuses that this missile shield is a threat to its security due to the fact that the VLS MK41 vertical launch system, which houses the SM-3 interceptors, can also host Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The United States, NATO and Romania have repeatedly denied Russia's allegations, arguing that this anti-ballistic shield is purely defensive.

The Deveselu Aegis Ashore base equipped with SM-3 anti-ballistic interceptors defends both Romania and the rest of the European allies.

Aegis Ashore represents the superior level of a stratified anti-air defense at European level, which overlaps over the national air defense systems.

Both Romania in south-eastern Europe and Poland in Central Europe, as well as Sweden in the Scandinavian peninsula, recently acquired the American Patriot system.

Although Sweden is not a member of NATO, it is an ally of the United States and other European states, being a member of the European Union.

Patriot mid-to-long range systems, in addition to significantly improving national air defense, also contribute by expansion to the defence of other European allies territories.

In Romania, the Patriot system represents the superior component of the national stratified anti-aircraft defense, being also able to ensure the protection of some parts of the territories of the neighboring countries.

Aegis Ashore covers a top layer and defends the entire European Union and NATO's European allies.

However, between the Romanian Patriot using the PAC-3 MSE and PAC-3 GEM-T interceptors and the Aegis Ashore system using the SM-3 interceptors, there is an uncovered layer, which can be assured by the THAAD system.

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a system designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, when descending or re-entering the atmosphere.

The interceptors used by THAAD reach a maximum speed of Mach 8.24 (10,094 km/h; 2.80 km/s), have an operational range of more than 200 km and can reach an altitude of 150 km.

In 2019, during some modernization works at the Aegis Ashore system in Deveselu, the USA sent THAAD systems to Romania to ensure the anti-ballistic defense capability during the base modernization works.

Finally, with the first Patriot systems already in reception and with the imminent launch of the auction for 27 SHORAD/VSHORAD systems and 168 new portable MANPADS-type launchers, Romania will have a very modern layered anti-aircraft defense, which will represent a strong deterrent to any potential aggressor.

Besides the ground-based mobile air defense systems, to the entire Romanian air-defense capability will also contibute the anti-aircraft systems installed on the Type 22 frigates and on the future Gowind 2500 corvettes with the Naval Forces.

Last but not least, the Aegis Ashore base in Deveselu, part of the NATO anti-ballistic system in Europe, will contribute to this stratified national system as a protective umbrella.

The Radars guarding Romania's air and sea space

Another major component of the national defense system is the radar network.

Radars are responsible for early detection of a possible threat and further warning of the anti-aircraft systems or the combat airplanes of the incoming threats.

Romania, at this moment, has a very well developed radar network.

Begining with 1998, Romania started to acquire high-performance AN/FPS-117 radars from the United States of America.

Currently, the Romanian Armed Forces have a total of five fixed AN/FPS-117 radars and three TPS-77 radars, the mobile version of the AN/FPS-117.

Two other TPS-77 mobile radars were ordered from manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

AN/FPS-117 is a three-dimensional AESA radar with a detection range of 470 km that can detect air targets up to an altitude of 30.5 km.

Another radar of American origin equipping the Romanian Air Force is the TPS-79R Gap Filler three-dimensional radar.

The TPS-79R is a mobile radar towed by DAC 665T trucks, and is designed to monitor the airspace at low and medium altitudes.

Romania has 19 of such radars that have been in service since 2004.

TPS-79R Gap Filler radars are used both in air defense missions and in airspace control missions.

In addition to the American radars, Romania also relies on a few Soviet radars remaining in operational service.

The P-18 radar is a two-dimensional radar designed to monitor airspace.

Entering service with the Romanian army since 1977, the P-18 radar is mounted on a Soviet Ural-375D truck.

The P-37 Bar Lock radar is a two-dimensional radar operating in the E/F band, which has been in service with Romania since 1975.

The Romanian military also has the PRV-13 radio altimeter of Soviet origin, which has been in operational service since 1978.

The role of such a system is to determine by radar the height above the ground of an aerial object.

The SCOMAR system of the Coast Guard and Naval Forces

The possible threats against Romania can also come from the water, not only through the air.

Romania is a state bordering the Black Sea, currently one of the most tense regions in the world, being a conflict zone after the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia and the subsequent outbreak of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The Romanian Naval Forces also have an advanced system designated SCOMAR, a surveillance system for the Romanian maritime borders, the European Union and NATO.

Sistemul Complex de Observare, Supraveghere si Control al Traficului la Marea Neagra (SCOMAR) (EN: Complex Black Sea Traffic Observation, Surveillance and Control System) allows early detection, tracking, reconnaissance and identification of ships, as well as low-altitude aerial targets.

This system is shared by the Romanian Naval Forces, the Romanian Border Police and by the Romanian Naval Authority.

The Romanian Air Force (RoAF)

The combat planes of the Romanian Air Force

The Romanian Air Force (RoAF) currently operates two types of fighter jets: the iconic American F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role aircraft and the venerable MiG-21 LanceR.

The RoAF inventory includes 16 multi-role F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrafts and between 26 and 36 MiG-21 LanceR fighters. Another F-16 fighter, the 17th, will enter service with RoAF in early 2021.

The Romanian Air Force has relied on the Soviet MiG-21 since the 1960s, when Romania received the first such aircraft from the Soviet Union.

With the accession to NATO in 2004, Romania was preparing several modernization programs to increase the interoperability of the Romanian Armed Forces with the other NATO states.

By far the most important program of the 2000s, was the acquisition of 48 new multi-role aircrafts, in order to revitalize the Romanian Air Force.

The estimated amount for this mega-acquisition was about $4 billion.

At the time, Poland had just concluded a similar deal, selecting since 2003 the offer of the Americans from Lockheed Martin, and purchasing 48 F-16 Block 50/52+ multi-role aircrafts, the most modern version of Fighting Falcon at that time.

The offers for Romania were also impressive. Lockheed Martin offered to the Romanian Air Force the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the European consortium Eurofighter had offered the advanced Eurofighter Typhoon, while the Swedes from Saab offered JAS 39C/D Gripen.

The Europeans offered offset, the most generous being the Swedes, Romania having the chance to locally-assemble the JAS 39 Gripen fighters if it had chosen the Scandinavians' offer.

Although in 2007 Romania would have had the necessary amount for the program, and could have completed this much needed acquisition, the project was unjustifiably postponed, and in 2008 Romania was severely hit by the economic crisis, entering recession.

The Romanian state had lost the chance to acquire 48 new multi-role aircrafts at the right time and to modernize its combat aviation for several decades.

Funding for this program was no longer available, but the need for multi-role aircrafts increased as the old MiG-21 LanceRs consumed their resources one by one.

The offers continued to come even after the recovery from the economic crisis, but this time the option for second-hand planes was more opportune.

Offers for second-hand aircrafts were made both by the Americans who continued to offer F-16s and by Italians with Eurofighters.

The Swedes were still offering Romania new planes with offset, but this time only 24 aircrafts.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon, the current multi-role aircraft of the Romanian Air Force

Finally, in 2013, Romania signed the acquisition of 12 second-hand F-16 fighter jets from Portugal.

In reality, these aircrafts had been flown by the Americans before being purchased by the Portuguese.

But the fighter jets that Romania was going to buy were to be completely revitalized, both the airframes themselves and also the engines.

After the modernization, the twelve Romanian F-16 fighters would have had an average of another 4,500 flight hours, and could be used for another 20 years.

Romania paid a total of 628 million dollars for this business, of which 120 million for the 12 aircraft, meaning a price of 10 million dollars per fighter jet.

The rest of the total amount included the modernization of the aircrafts, the training of pilots and technicians, as well as the armament.

The 12 F-16AM/BM Block 15 aircrafts were upgraded in Portugal by OGMA to the F-16AM/BM Block 20 M5.2R tape standard.

The armament purchased with these F-16 MLU multirole aircraft included:
- 30 x AIM-120C-6 AMRAAM C6 medium-range air-to-air missiles
- 60 AIM-9M Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles
- 18 AGM-65H Maverick air-to-ground missiles

The new Romanian aircrafts were also equipped with high-performance Sniper containers for ground target designation.

Purchased in 2013, the 12 aircrafts of this first batch arrived in Romania in 2016 and 2017, forming the 53rd "Warhawks" Hunting Squadron.

The Romanian Air Force has decided to purchase another 5 F-16 multirole fighters from Portugal to complete the current squadron.

For these additional five F-16 jets of the second batch, Romania paid a total of 280 million euros, of which 130 million to Portugal and 150 million to the United States.

Under this second contract, the five additional F-16 aircrafts were upgraded to the same F-16 M5.2 tape standard.

The first two arrived in the country on August 15, 2020, joining the 12 planes from the first batch stationed at 86th Borcea Air Base.

They were followed by other two by the end of 2020. The fifth F-16 will arive in Romania at the beginning of 2021.

Recently, in 2020, Aerostar Bacau was declared a maintenance center for RoAF F-16 fighter aircrafts.

All the 17 F-16 aircrafts of the 53 Warhawks Squadron will be upgraded by Aerostar to a higher standard, the M6.x tape, a standard not yet officially specified, and may either be the M6.1, M6.2 or the M6.5 standard.

It should be noted that the M6.5 tape standard allows the integration on the F-16 of the JASSM cruise missile which has an operational range of 370 km.

This state-of-the-art cruise missile is already in the inventory of the Polish Air Force and could be a viable option for Romania as well.

But the modernization of the Romanian Air Force does not stop here.

Another 36 F-16 aircrafts for the Romanian Air Force

Romania plans to purchase another 36 F-16 multi-role aircrafts, and if this project will be completed, RoAF will have a total of 53 F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters.

At the moment, more details about this important acquisition are not available.

Romanian officials have not yet made public information about the version of the next 36 aircrafts or whether they will be new or used airframes.

There are multiple options, including either newly produced F-16V Block 70/72 aircrafts or used F-16C/D jets from AMARG. A possible combination of new and used F-16 airframes is not excluded either.

The F-35 fifth generation stealth fighter, a desideratum of the Romanian Air Force

It is no secret that Romania wants to purchase fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II multirole stealth fighters in the near future.

This wish has been exposed in the public space countless times, both by politicians and by high-ranking officials from the Romanian Armed Forces.

One of the official motivations for the purchase of second-hand F-16s was that they would represent an intermediate step towards a future potential acquisition of F-35 stealth fighters.

And the United States seems to have already offered F-35 to Romania.

There is information that the Americans would like Romania to better buy F-35 fighters than additional F-16 fourth generation jets.

But the Romanian decidents do not seem to be in a hurry regarding the F-35s, motivating that they would be too expensive at the moment for Romania.

It is an understandable decision considering the fact that the Romanian Armed Forces must start many other major modernization programs, among which prioritary for 2021 will be the mobile anti-ship missile batteries, the SHORAD/VSHORAD program plus the MANPADS systems, the modernization of the IAR 99 advanced training aircraft, as well as the program for acquiring some UCAV systems.

In July 2019, the then-Defense Minister Gabriel Les said the acquisition of the F-35 would begin in a decade, most likely starting in 2028.

Poland has already ordered 32 F-35 multirole aircrafts this year, worth $4.6 billion (4.17 billion euros).

In the most probable case, when the Romanian Ministry of Defense will purchase another 36 F-16 aircrafts, bringing the entire F-16 fleet to a total of 53 units, Romania has the option to further modernize these jets to the F-16V standard, as Taiwan has done and how Greece will also proceed.

The F-16V standard represents the most advanced version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, these newly built models being designated as F-16V Block 70/72.

This new version brings on the F-16 the AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar and part of the avionics developed for the F-35 Lightning II program.

MiG-21 LanceR fighter jets at the end of the road

MiG-21 LanceR was the main fighter aircraft of Romania until the arrival of the F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters.

Although they are at the end of their lifespan, the MiG-21 LanceR jets will fly for a few more years for the Romanian Air Force.

The first MiG-21 aircrafts entered the service of the Romanian Air Force in 1963, when 12 such aircrafts were received from the USSR.

In total, Romania has owned 322 MiG-21 aircrafts over the years.

In the 1990s, the Romanian Air Force had 22 MiG-29 fighters and many more MiG-23 and MiG-21 fighter jets.

The MiG-21s were the most numerous, and the Air Force decided to modernize them in cooperation with the Israeli company Elbit.

Between 1995 and 2002, a total of 111 MiG-21 fighter aircrafts were upgraded to the LanceR standard, in three variants:
- MiG-21 LanceR A (M/MF/MF-75 variants) - ground attack variant, 71 units
- MiG-21 LanceR B (UM variant) - twin-seat variant used for training, 14 units
- MiG-21 LanceR C (MF/MF-75 variants) - air superiority variant, 26 units

The MiG-21 LanceR C air superiority aircrafts were equipped with the Elta EL/M-2032 radar, developed by the Israelis for their indigenous IAI Lavi program, eventually canceled.

The IAI Lavi was an Israeli multirole fighter aircraft similar to the F-16, but with a delta-canard wing configuration.

The Romanian MiG-21 LanceR can use both the original R-60 and R-73 Soviet missiles, as well as the Israeli Python III missiles, or the French Matra Magic 2 missiles.

The Israeli Derby medium-range air-to-air missile was not purchased, although it is integrated into the Israeli avionics installed aboard the LanceR.

It is currently estimated that only 26 to 36 MiG-21 LanceR fighter jets are still operational.

They will be gradually replaced in the near future with more F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters.

The training aircrafts of the Romanian Air Force

The Romanian Air Force has both jet training aircrafts as well as Iak-52 propeller planes.

The Romanian IAR 99 advanced trainer and light attack aircraft

IAR 99 is a reactive, subsonic, advanced trainer and ground attack aircraft, designed and built in Romania.

Today, a number of 21 IAR 99 aircrafts are in service with the Romanian Air Force, being used mainly by cadets to make the transition to the supersonic fighters.

Out of a total of 21 IAR 99 aircrafts, eleven are upgraded to the IAR 99 Soim standard, and the remaining ten are the standard version.

IAR 99 Soim is the modernized version in cooperation with Elbit, having Israeli avionics similar to the one fitted on MiG-21 LanceR jets.

This variant is used by pilots to make the transition to the MiG-21 LanceR.

Recently, the Romanian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Avioane Craiova, the company that manufactured these aircraft, for the modernization of the ten IAR 99 standard trainers to the IAR 99 SM version (Standard Modernized).

They will be equipped with avionics similar to that of the F-16s, in order to be used by the Romanian pilots to make the transition to the new RoAF's F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The Romanian Air Force also has 12 IAK-52 training aircrafts (Yakovlev Yak-52).

Designed in the Soviet Union, they were produced in Romania at Aerostar Bacau between 1977 and 1998.

The transport and cargo aircrafts of the Romanian Air Force

In addition to the combat component, the Romanian military aviation also has transport aircrafts.

The Romanian Air Force has a fairly modern transport fleet, sufficient in number given the size and role of the RoAF.

The Romanian military transport fleet consists of three American C-130 Hercules aircrafts, seven C-27J Spartan aircrafts manufactured by the Italian company Alenia and two Antonov An-26 aircrafts.

In 1996, Romania received from the United States four Hercules C-130B transport aircrafts.

One of them was withdrawn from service and used to provide spare parts for the three aircrafts remaining in operational service.

On December 7, 2007, Romania signed a procurement contract for seven Italian C-27J Spartan transport aircrafts.

The first two were delivered to the Romanian Air Force on April 12, 2010, all seven entering operational service by 2015.

The Romanian Air Force also has two Antonov An-26 transport planes.

The RoAF inventory also includes two Antonov An-30 reconnaissance aircraft.

Produced in the former USSR, and based on the Antonov An-24 transport aircraft, Antonov An-30 specializes in aerial mapping.

Romania's Helicopters

The helicopters within the Romanian Armed Forces are operated exclusively by the Romanian Air Force, with the exception of three helicopters specialized in anti-submarine warfare that are in service with the Romanian Naval Forces.

Starting with 2007, the first IAR 330 Puma Naval helicopter became part of the Naval Forces, which currently operates three such helicopters on its three frigates.

Romania's helicopter fleet consists mainly of 62 medium IAR 330 helicopters, of which 24 are converted into an attack variant and three are specialized in anti-submarine combat and used by the Naval Forces.

In addition to the IAR 330 helicopters, the Air Force also owns six IAR 316 helicopters, the Romanian version of Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III produced under the license.

Although a member of the Warsaw Pact, on July 30, 1974, Romania purchased from France the license to locally-manufacture the Aerospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter.

The Romanian variant, manufactured by IAR Brasov, was designated IAR 330.

In total, IAR Brasov produced at least 163 IAR 330 helicopters, most of them for for the Romanian Air Force, which purchased a total of 104 units.

Another 57 IAR 330 helicopters have been exported over time to several countries, including Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Kenya and the Ivory Coast.

Currently, the Romanian Air Force still operates a total of 59 IAR 330 helicopters, of which 24 were modified in the IAR 330 Puma SOCAT attack variant, while the remaining 35 are the IAR 330 L/M variants, the IAR 330M variant being modernized.

The Romanian IAR 330 Puma SOCAT attack helicopter

In the 1990s, Romania decided to modernize some of its IAR 330 helicopters and transform them into an attack helicopter variant equipped with anti-tank missiles.

In 1995, as in the case of the modernization of the MiG-21 fighter jets to the LanceR version, Romania decided to modernize its helicopters in partnership with the Israeli company Elbit.

Thus, 24 IAR 330L helicopters were to be upgraded with the SOCAT system (Sistem Optronic de Cercetare si Anti-Tanc / En: Optronic Research and Anti-Tank System).

The IAR 330 Puma SOCAT helicopters were equipped with a 20 mm Nexter THL-20 automatic cannon, LPR 57 launchers for unguided missiles, as well as eight Spike ER anti-tank missiles.

The first IAR 330L SOCAT flew on May 26, 1998, the new attack helicopters entering active service in 2001.

Also, another twelve IAR 330 transport helicopters were upgraded between 2005 and 2008 to the IAR 330M standard, benefiting from the same avionics as the SOCAT models, but lacking the armament and optoelectronic systems installed on the attack version.

Romanian IAR 330 helicopters sent to Mali

Starting with October 2019, Romania contributes to the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali.

The Romanian Air Force sent 120 soldiers and four IAR-330 L-RM helicopters to the African country.

The four IAR 330 L-RM helicopters have been specially upgraded for this mission.

The helicopters were equipped with the Israeli BrightNite™ system developed by Elbit Systems, Romania becoming the first NATO operator of this high-performance system.

BrightNite™ is an advanced night vision system with exceling in low visibility conditions.

On August 10, during a powerful storm, an IAR 330 L-RM helicopter was overturned at the base in Gao, suffering damage.

AH-1RO Dracula, the Romanian version of the famous AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter

Also in the second half of the 1990s, Romania planned an ambitious project that provided for the acquisition of 96 AH-1 Cobra helicopters.

This acquisition was part of a larger program to privatize IAR Brasov, through which 70% of the shares of the Romanian helicopter manufacturer were to be taken over by Bell Helicopters.

Thus, the Brasov factory was to produce the famous Cobra attack helicopters both for Romania and for foreign clients.

Also, the Romanian company Turbomecanica would have produced components for helicopter engines under license.

The Romanian version of the famous Cobra attack helicopter would have been designated AH-1RO Dracula.

Unfortunately, this business did not materialize due to the great financial difficulties that Romania was going through at the end of the 1990s.

About 20 years later, after the failure of this acquisition, the Bell attack helicopters have are again considered by the Romanian Ministry of Defence.

But this time it would be the latest model of the Cobra family of attack helicopters, namely the AH-1Z Viper.

AH-1Z Viper and AH-1Y Venom helicopters for the Romanian Land Forces

One of the most important programs announced for the modernization of the Romanian Army is that of a possible acquisition of 45 helicopters from the American company Bell.

Specifically, Romania plans to purchase 24 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters together with 21 UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters.

These two helicopters are mainly used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

A big advantage of the two Bell models is that they share the same components in a proportion of 60%, thus reducing operating costs.

At the date of announcing this project, in 2018, the wish of the Romanian authorities was that most of these future helicopters would be produced in Romania.

To date, no official information has been made public about this acquisition, meaning that this project is at least postponed in favor of other priority programs.

This program for 45 Bell helicopters is estimated at an extremely high cost of several billion dollars, and local production could lead to increased total costs, the Romanian state having to invest in production facilities.

What seemed to be a project that will be launched soon, it was postponed indefinitely, the focus turning on other priority programs such as mobile coastal batteries, and short-range and very short-range air defense systems (SHORAD/VSHORAD).

Possible purchase of Airbus H215 and H215M helicopters

Another deal that seems to have been postponed for the time being is the purchase of Airbus H215 and H215M transport helicopters.

Even if they were not part of an official program, the Romanian state hinted that it would be available to buy this type of helicopters from Airbus.

On September 14, 2016, in the presence of the then President of France, Francois Hollande, Airbus inaugurated the H215 and H215M helicopter assembly plant in Ghimbav, Romania.

Airbus motivated this investment by declaring that it has guarantees from the Romanian state for the acquisition of 12 such helicopters, an acquisition that would launch the production of this model in the new facility.

But the order from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense did not come, meanwhile the intention of Romania to purchase Bell helicopters was made public.

Subsequently, Airbus representatives stated on several occasions that in the absence of an order from the Romanian state, the new production facility could be closed.

Airbus also made an offer to the Romanian authorities similar to that of Bell.

Airbus offered 45 helicopters, including 24 H145M helicopters in attack and 21 H215M transport helicopters.

H145M attack helicopters have already been purchased by Serbia and Hungary.

An eventual order for the H215 helicopters could come from the Romanian Ministry of Interior, which will soon launch an auction for 12 medium transport helicopters.

But at this auction, Lockheed Martin / Sikorsky also announced its presence with the Black Hawk helicopter manufactured at PZL Mielec.

There is currently no new information on a possible order from the Ministry of Defense for H215M helicopters.

The Sikorsky company offers the Black Hawk helicopter

Sikorsky company is also interested in a possible Romanian acquisition of helicopters, offering the Black Hawk model.

In March 2018, Romaero of Romania and Sikorsky, part of the Lockheed Martin group, signed an industrial partnership agreement.

The agreement provided that if Romania purchases Black Hawk multi-role helicopters, Romaero will become a regional center for the equipment and maintenance of Black Hawk helicopters in Central Europe.

Black Hawk helicopters are produced in Poland by PZL Mielec, a company owned by Sikorsky.

Recently, at the beginning of September 2020, a new memorandum was signed between the representatives of Sikorsky and Romaero, which reaffirms the Romanian company's involvement in the equipment and maintenance of Black Hawk helicopters.

The helicopters assembled by PZL Mielec in Poland would be delivered to Romaero for completion, by equipping them according to customer requirements. Romaero would also take care of the maintenance of these helicopters.

The agreement was signed in order to participate in the announced tender organized by the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs for 12 medium helicopters.

In addition to Sikorsky, it is expected that Airbus will also participate with the H215 helicopter that would be assembled in the new Airbus facility in Ghimbav.

It remains to be seen if and when the Ministry of Defense will decide on the direct purchase of new helicopters or will organize an auction in this regard.

If the Ministry of National Defense eventually decides to buy new attack helicopters together with multi-role helicopters, they will equipp the Romanian Land Forces.

This would be a premiere in the Romanian Armed Forces, where helicopters have always been operated exclusively by the Air Force.

It seems that the program related to new helicopters still has to wait, Romania having at its disposal several offers to choose from.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

The Romanian Armed Forces uses a total of 17 medium and small sized unmanned aircrafts (drones).

RQ-7 Shadow

The largest UAV operated by Romania is the RQ-7 Shadow, a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle.

Initially, Romania purchased a total of eleven RQ-7 Shadow-600 UAVs, the largest variant of Shadow, three of which were lost in the theater of operations in Iraq.

In addition to the RQ-7 Shadow, the Romanian military also uses 10 smaller ScanEagle drones.

ScanEagle are reconnaissance drones operating at low altitudes that the Romanian military received from the United States for use in Afghanistan.

Romania to acquire unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs)

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense is preparing to launch a program for the acquisition of seven UAS class II drone systems.

The value of this program is estimated at $ 276.7 million.

According to the classification of drone types by the US Air Force, Class II or Level II (Tier II) includes unmanned medium and high endurance unmanned aircrafts (Medium altitude, long endurance - MALE).

The UAVs of this class are usually unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).

The second class includes models such as MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, Elbit Hermes 900, IAI Heron or IAI Eitan.

MQ-9 Reaper and Elbit Hermes 900 seem to be favorites, being two of the options that Romania can purchase.

These types of drones can be equipped with air-to-ground missiles, anti-tank missiles and various bombs.

The US Air Force has twice deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones at the Romanian 71 Campia Turzii Air Base, first time in the summer of 2019 in July and August, and later in early 2020.

MQ-9 Reaper can be considered the main favorite in this program considering the American presence in Romania and the fact that it is used by many NATO allies, mainly by the United States.

The Israeli company Elbit Systems, with a long presence in Romania, also wants to participate in this program, offering the Hermes 900 model.

In May 2020, the Romanian companies Avioane Craiova and Romaero signed a memorandum with the Israelis from Elbit Systems in order to produce drones in the country in case the Israelis will be selected to deliver unmanned combat aerial vehicles to the Romanian Ministry of Defense.

Thus, at Avioane Craiova, could be assembled various models of drones from the Elbit portfolio, such as Hermes 900, Hermes 450 and Skylark I-LEX.

Romanian Naval Forces

The Romanian Naval Forces have two fleets: the Maritime Fleet and the River Fleet.

The maritime fleet consists of three (3) frigates, four (4) corvettes, three (3) missile corvettes, three (3) fast attack ships (torpedo boats), four (4) minesweepers, and one (1) minelayer.

The maritime fleet operates in the Black Sea, with the three frigates based in the port of Constanta, and the four corvettes based in the port of Mangalia. The three frigates form the 56 Frigate Flotilla, and the four corvettes are part of the 50 Corvette Division.

Frigates of the Romanian Naval Forces

The largest surface combatants of the Romanian Naval Forces fleet are three large frigates, the Romanian frigate Marasesti and two ex-British Type 22 frigates.

Marasesti frigate , the pride of the Romanian naval industry

F111 Marasesti is the largest Romanian-designed warship built in a Romanian construction shipyard, with a length of 144.6 m and a displacement of 5,550 tons.

The largest Romanian warship was built in the Mangalia Shipyard (May 2 Shipyard) between 1979 and 1985.

Initially launched under the name Muntenia and classified as a light helicopter cruiser, the Romanian warship changed its name and classification twice.

On May 2, 1990, the light cruiser Muntenia became the Timisoara destroyer, and after just three months its name would be changed again, becoming the Marasesti destroyer.

A decade later, on April 1, 2002, the warship Marasesti was reclassified from destroyer to frigate, receiving the boarding number F111.

The Marasesti frigate was the flagship of the Romanian Navy until this title was taken over by the "new" Type 22 frigate, F221 King Ferdinand.

Type 22 frigates of the Romanian Naval Forces

In preparation for joining NATO in 2004, Romania acquired on January 14, 2003 two Type 22 Batch 2 frigates from the United Kingdom.

The two frigates sold to Romania, along with the rest of the British Type 22 frigates, were prematurely withdrawn from the Royal Navy following the "Strategic Defense Review" program of the British Government.

The acquisition of the two frigates was the subject of a major corruption scandal in Romania due to the huge amount of money paid by the Romanian Government for the two warships.

The Romanian state paid for the two unarmed frigates withdrawn by the Royal Navy, a huge sum of 116 million pounds (134 million euros).

For comparison, the same year, Chile acquired the HMS Sheffield frigate, also a Type 22 Batch 2 frigate.

But the Chilean state paid 10 million pounds on the frigate, while Romania paid 58 million pounds per each ship.

Prior to handing over the ships to the Romanian Navy, the armament on the two frigates was removed, and only the 76 mm Oto Melara cannons ware installed aboard.

The arming of the two frigates was planned to be done under another contract that had not been completed yet for more than 15 years.

Modernization of Type 22 frigates

The two Type 22 frigates are to be upgraded as part of the construction program of the four multi-role corvettes.

The tender for the construction of the four multi-role corvettes was won by Naval Group in association with the Constanta Shipyard.

The Type 22 frigates are to be modernized and armed in the Constanta Shipyard, similar to the four Gowind 2500 corvettes that will be built.

Three new frigates for the Romanian Navy

In October 2018, the Romanian Naval Forces to announce their intention to purchase in near future three new frigates which will most likely replace the current three ships, both the two Type 22 frigates as well as the Marasesti frigate having already 35 years old since they were launched.

Romania's requirement is that the three frigates to be built in a Romanian shipyard, just like the four Gowind 2500 corvettes.

Most likely, the program for the construction of the three frigates will start after the construction of the three new submarines, another planned program of the Romanian Navy.

As a time horizon, the construction of the three frigates could start after 2030, considering that the two Type 22 frigates will go through a modernization and arming program.

The Tetal-I and Tetal-II corvettes of the Romanian Naval Forces

Currently, in addition to the three frigates, Romania also has four corvettes.

Like the frigate Marasesti, the four corvettes of the Romanian Naval Forces were designed and built in Romania in the 1980s.

Two of them are part of the class Admiral Petre Barbuneanu (Tetal-I), and the other two are an improved project designated class Rear Admiral Eustatiu Sebastian (Tetal-II).

Being built in the 80s, when Romania was a member of the Warsaw Pact, NATO, in its style of classifying with its own designation the military technique of the communist states, gave the designatiof of Tetal-I to class Admiral Petre Barbuneanu ships and Tetal-II to class Rear Admiral Eustatiu Sebastian corvettes.

Today, these four corvettes are obsolete and poorly armed, and will be replaced in the near future by four new Gowind 2500 multirole corvettes.

Gowind 2500, the future corvette of the Romanian Naval Forces

In 2016, the then Romanian government directly awarded a contract to the Romanian shipyard Damen Galati for the construction of four Sigma 10514 multirole corvettes.

After the change of government, the new government decided to repeal the direct award and launch a tender for the procurement of the four multi-role corvettes.

This corvette acquisition program also included the modernization and arming of the two Type 22 frigates, the entire contract being estimated at 1.6 billion euros.

Three major European shipbuilders have submitted bids in this tender:
1. Naval Group offered the Gowind 2500 corvette class;
2. Damen Group offered the Sigma 10514 corvette class;
3. Fincantieri offered a corvette based on the Abu Dhabi class, called the Abu Dhabi Enhanced.

The decisive criterion for winning the auction was the offer with the lowest price.

Damen and Fincantieri already owned two shipyards in Romania each.

Damen owns the Damen Galati Shipyard, and before concluding the auction it also acquired 49% of the Mangalia Shipyard, the remaining 51% being owned by the Romanian state.

The Italian company Fincantieri owns the Vard Braila and Vard Tulcea shipyards.

Naval Group, which did not own any shipyard in Romania, partnered with the Constanta Shipyard (SNC) to build the four Gowind corvettes if it was selected as the winner of the tender.

In the end, Naval Group and Constanta Shipyard won the tender offering the lowest price, of 1 billion euros.

But as of May 2021, the contract was still not signed because Damen challenged the outcome of the auction in court, accusing leaks of classified information during the bidding process.

Indeed, before the official opening of the envelopes with the candidates' offers, the offers of each participant was made public in the Romanian press.

Damen's appeal was definitively rejected by the Bucharest Tribunal on July 14, 2020, but the Romanian Ministry of Defense has not yet signed the construction contract for the four Gowind corvettes with Naval Group and SNC.

The four Gowind 2500 corvettes would be built in the Constanta Shipyard. Naval Group and SNC will also have to modernize and arm the two Type 22 frigates similar to the Gowind corvettes.

The Missile corvettes, torpedo boats, minesweepers and minelayers of the Romanian Navy

The Romanian Navy also has three Zborul-class missile corvettes and two Epitrop-class torpedo boats which are basically torpedo-equipped fast attack crafts.

The sea fleet also has a Cosar class minelayer and four Musca class minesweepers.

The Romanian Delfinul (EN: Dolphin) Submarine

The Romanian Naval Forces also had a Kilo class submarine in operational service, but it is currently inactive, being preserved for 25 years, since 1996.

In the 1980s, Romania ordered a Kilo-class submarine (Project 877E) from the Soviet Union, paying $40 million for it.

Built at the Krasnoye Sormovo Factory No. 112 shipyard in Nizhniy Novgorod, the construction of the Romanian Delfinul submarine began in 1984, the submarine being launched in 1985.

Arriving in Romania in 1989, the Delfinul submarine was active in the service of the Romanian Navy for only seven years, being finally docked in 1996 because the batteries were exhausted.

Thus, Romania was left without its only submarine, a weapon with a great power of deterrence for a possible enemy.

The Romanian Navy wants three new submarines

In 2018, an ambitious new plan was announced regarding the future of the Romanian Navy: the Naval Forces want to purchase three new submarines.

As a time horizon, most likely this program will be started after the construction of the four Gowind multirole corvettes.

The future three submarines, like the four corvettes, would also be built in a Romanian shipyard.

A number of three submarines would allow the Romanian Naval Forces to have at least one submarine permanently on patrol.

The three submarines would represent an enormous increase in Romania's defense capabilities, representing a strong deterrent for a potential aggressor.

Submarines are by definition very difficult to detect weapon attack platforms, forcing a potential enemy to allocate considerable resources to search and detect such a warship.

The Romanian Naval Forces would have to choose mainly from three submarine projects:
- Type 214
- Scorpene submarine class
- Blekinge submarine class (A26)

Type 214 is a German-designed submarine with a length of 63 m and a displacement of 1,690 tons at the surface, respectively 1,860 tons in immersion.

Type 214 submarines are in service with Greece, Turkey, Portugal and South Korea, the first three states being NATO members.

The Scorpene submarine class is developed by the French shipbuilder Naval Group. Depending on the variant, they have a displacement between 1,565 and 2,000 tons, and a length between 61.7 and 75 meters.

Scorpene submarines were selected by Chile, Brazil, India and Malaysia.

The Blekinge class, originally known as the A26, is the newest submarine project developed by the Swedes from Saab.

The A26 has a displacement of 1,930 tons and a length of 63 meters.

Two such submarines are currently under construction for the Swedish Naval Forces.

All three types of submarines have diesel-electric propulsion and AIP (air-independent propulsion), which allows them to stay considerably longer submersed.

Romanian Navy River Fleet

A special capability of the Romanian Armed Forces and of the Romanian Navy in particular is represented by the river fleet.

Not many countries in the world still have a river fleet, and the river fleet of the Romanian Naval Forces is a very capable one, with seven river monitors and 12 patrol ships.

The monitors are divided into two classes: three monitors are part of the Mihail Kogalniceanu class, and the remaining four are part of the Smardan class.

Mihail Kogalniceanu class monitors have a maximum displacement of 550 tons and a length of 52.1 meters.

They are very well armed, having a 100 mm A 403 cannon similar to that of TR-85 tanks, two 30 mm cannons, four 14.5 mm heavy machine guns and a 122 mm multiple rocket launcher with 40 launching tubes, the same used on the APRA-40 multiple rocket launchers.

Also, the crew has at their disposal Strela 2M MANPADS-type portable launchers to use against incoming aerial threats.

The Smardan class monitors, the predecessor of the Mihail Kogalniceanu class, are smaller in size.

Such a monitor has a maximum displacement of 370 tons and a length of 50.7 meters.

The Smardan class monitors are also very well armed having the same weapon systems as the Mihail Kogalniceanu class ships.

In addition to the seven monitors, the river fleet also has twelve (12) VD 141 patrol ships, based in the ports of Tulcea and Braila.

Romania's mobile coastal battery systems equipped with anti-ship missiles

The Romanian Naval Forces also have mobile ground-based systems equipped with anti-ship missiles.

The Romanian Navy currently operates the old Soviet P-15 Termit anti-ship missiles available both on surface ships, such as the Marasesti frigate and the Zborul class missile corvettes, as well as on mobile 4K51 Rubezh coastal battery installations.

The acquisition of a new mobile battery system was planned for a long time, Romania launching a tender for these systems worth 137 million euros.

This tender proved to be a controversial one, being launched and canceled several times.

In August 2020, Romania definitively canceled the tender for coastal batteries and decided to directly purchase from the United States three mobile Naval Strike Missile anti-ship missile installations, a contract estimated at 200 million euros plus VAT.

Following this decision, Romania will probably use at least two types of anti-ship missiles because it is expected that the French Exocet Block III anti-ship missiles will be installed on the Gowind corvettes and on the Romanian Type 22 frigates.

It remains to be seen which anti-ship missiles will be selected by the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) to be integrated on its F-16 multirole aircrafts.

Telecommunication satellites for the Romanian Armed Forces

One of the most ambitious plans announced in recent years by the Romanian Ministry of Defense is to have its own satellite network.

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense (MApN) publicly announced in November 2018 that it wants to have its own geostationary telecommunications satellite starting with 2022.

The Ministry of National Defense made public the fact that in the 2009-2018 period it spent approximately 7.5 million euros for renting and providing satellite communications services.

This satellite will be the first in a future satellite system meant to serve Romania's National Security System.

Romania, a future military power in Central and South-Eastern Europe

The Romanian Armed Forces are going through an extensive process of transforming its military capabilities, and in the coming years will replace much of the outdated combat technique with modern state-of-the-art equipment.

Mainly, Romania seems to be oriented towards American armament, the United States of America being the main ally of Romania and a guarantor of its security, having important troops deployed on Romanian territory.

The Romanian Armed Forces acquired the latest version of the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, HIMARS launchers equipped with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, as well as F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters, planning to acquire fifth generation F-35 aircrafts in the near future.

It is difficult to predict whether all these modernization plans will be completed, as it is very likely that some will not be continued in their current form, or that other programs will become a priority.

But considering the geographical position in which it is located, the Black Sea being at this moment one of the most unstable areas in the world, Romania is obliged to continue its arming.

If the Romanian Armed Forces completes most of the planned programs, Romania will undoubtedly become militarily stronger than any of its neighbors with which it shares a land border, and will be a factor of regional stability and a reliable ally.

By accessing the following links, you can view a comparison of the equipment of the Romanian Armed Forces with the military equipment of other states in the region:

Romania vs Ukraine - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Hungary - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Serbia - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Bulgaria - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Poland - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Russia - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Greece - Military equipment comparison
Romania vs Turkey - Military equipment comparison