Romania signed a purchase contract with Turkey over the purchase of 18 Bayraktar drones, worth €290 million, Turkish Ambassador to Bucharest, Özgür Kıvanç Altast, announced on Thursday.

In a bid to support Romania’s military modernisation efforts until 2040, the National Defence Ministry already requested parliament’s prior approval for the acquisition of Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aircraft systems in September of last year. Now it signed a deal with Turkey.

“Our friend, Black Sea neighbour, and NATO ally Romania is adding Bayraktar TB2 to its inventory. This strategic capability, which has won many battles, is a new sign of our strategic partnership with Romania”, the Turkish ambassador to Bucharest posted on Twitter.

Bayraktar TB2 will support the Romanian Land Forces to create “flexible force structures, with a wide spectrum of capabilities specific to the 21st century”.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Romania has increased its military spending budget to meet an annual 2.5% of the country’s GDP.

Last year, Bucharest signed a framework agreement with Israel’s Elbit Systems company to purchase up to seven Watchkeeper X unmanned aircraft systems.

Romania’s Defence Ministry also purchased 32 F-16A/B aircraft, which had been operated in the Norwegian Air Force for 42 years.

The same ministry is also waiting for parliament’s approval to purchase 54 used Abrams tanks, submarines, anti-mine ships and new equipment for Romanian warships.

Earlier this month, the Supreme National Defence Council (CSAT) decided that Romania would buy American F-35 fighter jets after 2030.

(Cătălina Mihai | EURACTIV.ro)

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