With 76 votes “for” Romania's Senate (the upper house of the parliament) passed a law for the purchase of 32 American fighters of the fifth generation F-35, considered the most advanced in the world, reports Digi24. It was approved yesterday by the Chamber of Deputies (the lower house of the parliament), and the Senate is the deciding body in this case. The law is yet to be promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis.
It envisages the Government of Romania awarding the US Government Letter of Offer and Acceptance contracts for the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft, engines, ammunition, initial logistics support, ongoing access to the global F-35 support chain , equipment and services for training crews, support personnel and aviation engineering and technical personnel, special mode cryptographic equipment, specialized assistance and the implementation of industrial cooperation projects consisting in the transfer of technologies and products.
The necessary funds will be provided from the state budget through the budget of the Department of National Defense or through loans or loan guarantees provided by the US government, or through a combination thereof.
In November 2022, the Romanian government concluded a contract with the government of the Kingdom of Norway for the purchase of 32 F-16 aircraft worth 380 million euros. Acceptance of the entire batch is scheduled for the end of 2025. The fighters purchased by Norway add to the 17 F-16s that Romania bought from Portugal in 2016.