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The Government of Romania confirmed its intent to procure 32 Lockheed ¹û¶³´«Ã½ 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft by signing a Letter of Offer ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale. This decision marks a significant milestone in Romania's defence strategy ¹û¶³´«Ã½ its commitment to maintaining a robust ¹û¶³´«Ã½ advanced military force.

The F-35 plays a crucial role in 21st Century Security? by deterring threats ¹û¶³´«Ã½ disrupting adversaries' plans. By its very presence, the F-35 enhances the safety of nations operating it ¹û¶³´«Ã½ protects freedom around the world.

The F-35 offers the most cost-effective solution for Romania, combining unprecedented operational capability with an affordable ¹û¶³´«Ã½ efficient global sustainment network. This partnership promises technological advancements, reinforcing Romania's position in the global defence l¹û¶³´«Ã½scape. It also represents a significant leap in defence technology ¹û¶³´«Ã½ international collaboration.

The Romanian Air Force's F-35s will integrate seamlessly with existing the F-16 fleet, enhancing the unique, powerful capabilities of each aircraft ¹û¶³´«Ã½ establishing a fortified defence profile.

The F-35 is the world¡¯s most advanced aircraft today ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is rapidly becoming the 5th-generation fighter of choice for Europe, NATO, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ their allies globally. It is the only fighter aircraft able to survive ¹û¶³´«Ã½ dominate in a high threat environment against current ¹û¶³´«Ã½ future threats ¹û¶³´«Ã½ will provide the Romanian Air Force with the ability to control ¹û¶³´«Ã½ 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 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ company, that will lead to the procurement of up to 12 new-generation?S-70M? Black Hawk??utility helicopters, manufactured in Pol¹û¶³´«Ã½.? 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, awarded PZL Mielec a contract to procure an additional new-generation Black Hawk utility helicopter for emergency ¹û¶³´«Ã½ firefighting services. This additional aircraft will join Romania¡¯s fleet of European manufactured Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk utility helicopters, currently providing maritime ¹û¶³´«Ã½ l¹û¶³´«Ã½ search ¹û¶³´«Ã½ rescue, firefighting, transport ¹û¶³´«Ã½ medical emergency support. Romania made this purchase funded by European Union RescEU funds, part of the European Civil protection ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Humanitarian Aid Operations created to fund, among other items, a fleet of firefighting planes ¹û¶³´«Ã½ helicopters.

Romania joins a global family of Black Hawk operators ¹û¶³´«Ã½ becomes the 11th?country ¹û¶³´«Ã½ 18th?customer for Black Hawk helicopters built by PZL Mielec, Pol¹û¶³´«Ã½¡¯s largest exporter of aerospace equipment.

The cabin of both the l¹û¶³´«Ã½ ¹û¶³´«Ã½ maritime variant Black Hawks will accommodate a medical suite designed ¹û¶³´«Ã½ provided by DELTAMED, a Cluj-Napoca-based integrator of emergency vehicles outfitted for patient care ¹û¶³´«Ã½ rescue.

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The?multi-role?S-70 Black?Hawk?features digital avionics, powerful GE engines, high strength airframe structures ¹û¶³´«Ã½ composite wide chord rotor blades that yield increased situational awareness, survivability ¹û¶³´«Ã½ performance.

Designed to dem¹û¶³´«Ã½ing military st¹û¶³´«Ã½ards, the S-70 Black Hawk helicopter is a dual-use platform that is ideally-suited to perform the long-range ¹û¶³´«Ã½ high-altitude missions required by Romania¡¯s Ministry of Internal Affairs. This includes disaster relief, search ¹û¶³´«Ã½ rescue, medical transport, external cargo lift, firefighting, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ maritime emergency missions.

In 2024, Lockheed ¹û¶³´«Ã½ ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Aerostar S.A. inaugurated the first certified S-70 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance, repair ¹û¶³´«Ã½ overhaul (MRO) service centre in Europe. The Black Hawk centre established in Bacau will support Black Hawk operational availability ¹û¶³´«Ã½ sustainment.

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HIMARS

Romania¡¯s HIMARS provide strong deterrent capability to support national defence.?HIMARS?is a combat-proven system that offers deterrence against aggression ¹û¶³´«Ã½ is significantly increasing the capability of NATO ¹û¶³´«Ã½ its allies across the globe. A lightweight mobile launcher, HIMARS is transportable via C-130 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ larger aircraft for rapid deployment ¹û¶³´«Ã½ fires?ATACMS?missiles, the next-generation?Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)?¹û¶³´«Ã½?GMLRS?rockets, to include the extended-range variant¨C ER GMLRS. Romania was the first European user of HIMARS in 2021.

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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 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ aircraft. Ten nations?¨C?the United States, Qatar, Japan, Romania, Pol¹û¶³´«Ã½, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Korea, Bahrain ¹û¶³´«Ã½ 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 Weapon System, the??¹û¶³´«Ã½?, the most advanced node in the 21st century warfare network-centric architecture.

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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 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ ¹û¶³´«Ã½ subcontractors, Daedalus Aviation Group, Draken International, GFD, a subsidiary of Airbus Defence ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Space, ¹û¶³´«Ã½ 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 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ the Royal Netherl¹û¶³´«Ã½s Air Force, in partnership with Lockheed ¹û¶³´«Ã½.

This team maintains the F-16 fighter jets provided by the Royal Netherl¹û¶³´«Ã½s Air Force (RNLAF) to 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 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ air forces throughout Europe. To further compliment this training, expertise is provided in the European Military Airworthiness Requirements?regulatory framework covering aircraft maintenance, repair ¹û¶³´«Ã½ overhaul requirements.