On 21st November 2024, the Romanian government signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) and formally joined the Joint Strike Fighter programme as its twentieth member. The country is going to acquire thirty-two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 5th generation fighter aircraft through the Foreign Military Sale assistance procedure of the US government.
The sale of the F-35A jets to Romania was already officially approved by the US State Department on 13th September 2024. According to the press release of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Romanian government requested for thirty-two aircraft in Conventional Take-Off and Landing configuration and thirty-three Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines (32 installed, 1 spare).
Estimated value of the Romanian F-35 Lightning II contract is 7.2 billion USD. Apart from the aeroplanes, their equipment and armament, the deal includes spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, maintenance with support, software and its development with further integration, technical documentation, personnel training, as well as facilities and construction support, studies and surveys.
Currently, the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) operates twenty-nine F-16 AM/BM fighter aircraft. The ´Carpathian Vipers´, as they are commonly nicknamed, were bought from Portugal and Norway.
In 2013, Romania signed a deal with Portugal to acquire twelve F-16 Block 15 MLU fighters, under the Peace Carpathian programme. The first aircraft from that batch became operational in September of 2016. Then, another contract between those countries was concluded for five more F-16 fighters. All the ordered ex-Portuguese Vipers were delivered to Romania until the beginning of 2021.
In December of 2021, the country signed an agreement to purchase up to thirty-two F-16s from Norway. The first aircraft from that deal was delivered in 2023.
The RoAF estimates to operate the F-16 until the end of the 2030s. Their replacement process is planned to begin in 2034, with the first deliveries of the F-35A Lightning II fighters. In addition, the Romanian government expressed the country remains open to acquire another sixteen F-35s in the future.
For more information about the F-35 acquirements in Europe, please follow the links below:
- First F-35A Lightning II for Belgium
- Denmark welcomed its first F-35s at Skrydstrup air base
- Czech Republic looks towards F-35 Lightning II
Cover photo: Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II, USAF (illustrative photo)
