Romania has signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LoA) to procure 32 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.
A signing ceremony was held in Bucharest on 21 November 2024, with the ‘Protocol on the initiation of the Romanian Air Force Transition Programme’ signed by Romanian Minister of National Defence Angel Tîlvăr and the US Ambassador to Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, in the presence of Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and other Romanian and US officials.
The long-held aspiration of the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) to operate the F-35 received the green light in September 2024, when the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported the US State Department’s approval of a Romanian FMS package valued at USD 7.2 billion (EUR 6.48 billion) covering 32 F-35As.
“Investing in modern technology and state-of-the-art defence capabilities is a guarantee for a more secure future,” stated Tîlvăr at the ceremony. “The 32 aircraft for which the purchase contract was signed between the governments of Romania and the United States of America represent the pinnacle of aviation performance at the moment, at global level, and will provide for interoperability with NATO allies.
“This agreement is also an expression of the development and consolidation of economic partnerships between Romania and the USA, with significant economic impact in key areas of the defence industry and technology, which provides a new dimension to the Strategic Partnership with the United States of America,” Tîlvăr added. “In the current security context, our partnership is stronger than ever, and the solidarity of the US with Romania, proven by the substantial presence of troops on our country’s territory, contributes to the strengthening of the defence of the Eastern flank of the Alliance, in the Black Sea region.”
In a Lockheed Martin press release Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, director and programme executive officer of the F-35 Joint Program Office, was quoted as saying, “We are pleased to welcome Romania into the F-35 enterprise. The integration of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft into the Romanian Air Force will significantly strengthen NATO’s deterrence capabilities by providing unmatched strategic, operational and tactical advantages. The F-35 Joint Program Office is dedicated to continuing a strong relationship with Romania, ensuring a successful transition and providing comprehensive support for their pilots and maintainers as we move forward together on this great effort.”
Following the retirement of its MiG-21 LanceR fleet on 15 May 2023, the RoAF has operated 17 refurbished ex-Portuguese F-16AM/BMs that were acquired between October 2016 and March 2021. Then, in November 2022, Romania ordered 32 ex-Norwegian F-16AM/BMs, the first of which were delivered in November 2023.
Even before the RoAF acquired its F-16s, however, its long-term plan was to ultimately operate the F-35. Even before Romania officially joined NATO in March 2004, the Romanian military had adopted a strategic outlook that strongly favoured close co-operation with the United States. At its Deveselu Military Base, for example, Romania hosts a US Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defence system.
Tîlvăr stated in August 2023, when the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN) submitted its request to acquire F-35s to the Romanian parliament, that the country could expect to receive its first F-35s in 2032 as long as the FMS process saw the acquisition approved in 2024.
Beyond the US Air Force, US Marine Corps and US Navy, 20 countries now operate or have ordered the F-35.
