ÃÀÓÕÖ±²¥

The Government of Romania confirmed its intent to procure 32 Lockheed Martin 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft by signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale. This decision marks a significant milestone in Romania's defence strategy and its commitment to maintaining a robust and advanced military force.

The F-35 plays a crucial role in 21st Century Security? by deterring threats and disrupting adversaries' plans. By its very presence, the F-35 enhances the safety of nations operating it and protects freedom around the world.

The F-35 offers the most cost-effective solution for Romania, combining unprecedented operational capability with an affordable and efficient global sustainment network. This partnership promises technological advancements, reinforcing Romania's position in the global defence landscape. It also represents a significant leap in defence technology and international collaboration.

The Romania Air Force's F-35s will integrate seamlessly with existing F-16 fleets, enhancing the unique, powerful capabilities of each aircraft and establishing a fortified defence profile.

The F-35 the world¡¯s most advanced aircraft today and rapidly becoming the 5th-generation fighter of choice for Europe, NATO, and their allies globally. It is only fighter aircraft able to survive and dominate in a high threat environment against current and future threats and will provide the Romanian Air Force with the ability to control and defend Romania¡¯s sovereign territory well into the 2070s.

Romania¡¯s Ministry of Internal Affairs signed a framework agreement in 2021 with PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company, that will lead to the procurement of up to 12 new-generation S-70M Black Hawks utility helicopters, manufactured in Poland.? In 2023, Romania received seven S-70M helicopters as part of a framework agreement for up to twelve Polish-built S-70M Black Hawks. In June 2024, Romania¡¯s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Department of Emergency Situations, has awarded PZL Mielec a contract to procure an additional new-generation Black Hawk? utility helicopter for emergency and firefighting services. This additional aircraft will join Romania¡¯s fleet of European manufactured Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk utility helicopters, currently providing maritime and land search and rescue, firefighting, transport and medical emergency support. Romania made this purchase funded by European Union RescEU funds, part of the European Civil protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations created to fund, among other items, a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters.

Romania joins a global family of Black Hawk operators and becomes the 11th?country and 18th?customer for Black Hawk helicopters built by PZL Mielec, Poland¡¯s largest exporter of aerospace equipment.

The cabin of both the land and maritime variant Black Hawks will accommodate a medical suite designed and provided by DELTAMED, a Cluj-Napoca-based integrator of emergency vehicles outfitted for patient care and rescue.

?

The?multi-role?S-70 Black?Hawk?features digital avionics, powerful GE engines, high strength airframe structures and composite wide chord rotor blades that yield increased situational awareness, survivability, and performance.

Designed to demanding military standards, the S-70 Black Hawk helicopter is a dual-use platform that is ideally-suited to perform the long-range and high-altitude missions required by Romania¡¯s Ministry of Internal Affairs. This includes disaster relief, search and rescue, medical transport, external cargo lift, firefighting, and maritime emergency missions.

In 2024, Lockheed Martin, and Aerostar S.A., inaugurated the first certified S-70 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service centre in Europe. The Black Hawk centre established in Bacau will support Black Hawk operational availability and sustainment.

?

HIMARS

Romania¡¯s HIMARS provide strong deterrent capability to support national defence.?HIMARS?is a combat-proven system that offers deterrence against aggression and is significantly increasing the capability of NATO and its allies across the globe. A lightweight mobile launcher, HIMARS is transportable via C-130 and larger aircraft for rapid deployment, and fires?ATACMS?missiles, the next-generation?Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)?and?GMLRS?rockets to include the extended-range variant¨C ER GMLRS. Romania was the first European user of HIMARS in 2021.

?

PAC-3 MSE

The PAC-3 family of missiles are the only combat proven Hit-to-Kill interceptors that defend against incoming threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. Ten nations?¨C?the United States, Qatar, Japan, Romania, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Korea, Bahrain and Germany?¨C?have signed agreements to procure PAC-3 MSE interceptors.

As part of its role in JADO, PAC-3 has demonstrated integration with the?THAAD ÃÀÓÕÖ±²¥apon System, the??and?, the most advanced node in the 21st century warfare network-centric architecture.

?

?

?

F-16 Pilot Training

The first European F-16 Training Centre was inaugurated in 2023 at the Fete?ti Air Base in southern Romania. Lockheed Martin and subcontractors, Daedalus Aviation Group, Draken International, GFD, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space, and ILIAS Solutions will work as one team to provide F-16 training at the centre, which is the result of unique collaboration between the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, the Romanian Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force, in partnership with Lockheed Martin.

This team maintains the F-16 fighter jets provided by the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) to?in?support F-16 pilot training delivered by experienced F-16 instructor pilots with recent front-line experience flying F-16s in the U.S. Air Force and air forces throughout Europe. To further compliment this training, expertise is provided in the European Military Airworthiness Requirements?regulatory framework covering aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul requirements.