Romania to submit F-35 procurement request by end of 2024

Romania plans to submit a request for the F-35 by the end of 2024, with the first operational squadron after 2030. (US DoD)

Romania has firmed up plans to acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), with a senior official saying the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will submit a formal letter of request to the US government before the end of 2024.

In comments reported by the Romanian MoD on 8 March, Lieutenant General Teodor Incicaș, head of the General Directorate for Armaments, said that the groundwork for this procurement is now under way, with a formal request to be filed “this year or next year”.

“Complex steps must be taken, which means analysis in terms of infrastructure, making infrastructure corrections through investments, and then the purchase, which is complex in terms of development, but also in terms of delivery,” Lt Gen Incicaș said. “That is why I expect that this year or next year we will already [have sent] the request, [and] we will [then] take steps to sign the contract for the F-35.”

Lt Gen Incicaș noted that the planned procurement must first be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defence, as well as the Parliament of Romania. He added that it is the intention of the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) to field its first squadron after 2030, although he did not disclose prospective aircraft numbers to be acquired.

Janes World Air Forces lists the RoAF as currently fielding the MiG-21 Lancer (recently returned to service to plug an air defence deficiency) and Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon. Having acquired its F-16s from Portugal, the service is to receive additional aircraft from Norway as a stopgap measure through to the planned introduction of the F-35.