Romania to produce SkyCeptor missiles for Raytheon Patriot air defense systems.

Romanian state-owned military equipment supplier Romarm and its subsidiary Electromecanica Ploiesti have signed a memorandum with Raytheon Missiles & Defense to start manufacturing SkyCeptor interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems, the Romanian Ministry of Economy said, echoed by Nicoleta Balina reports in SeeNews.
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The family of PAC-3 missiles consists of high-velocity interceptors that defend against incoming threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft (Picture source: Raytheon)

The missiles will be manufactured at Romarm's plant in Ploiesti and will be delivered to the domestic and foreign markets, Economy minister Florin Spataru said during the signing ceremony. A variant of the Stunner hit-to-kill missile, the SkyCeptor interceptor, is developed to defeat short- to medium-range ballistic and cruise missiles and other advanced air defense threats, according to the information posted on Raytheon's website. "Romanian defense industry has all the possibilities and resources to revive itself and become an important part of the national economy," Defense minister Vasile Dincu said during the event.

In September 2020, Romania received the first Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system from Raytheon and is expecting three more by the end of 2022. In October 2020, Romanian aerospace company Romaero became a global supplier of components for the Patriot air and missile defense, Nicoleta Balina recalls.

Electromecanica Ploiesti was established in 1955 as a repair, armament and anti-aircraft artillery workshop and is now focused on armored, genius and artillery rocket technology. Since 2001, it is a subsidiary of Romarm. Founded in 2000, Romarm supplies military equipment, ammunition, as well as a range of maintenance services in Romania.

The family of PAC-3 missiles is high-velocity interceptors that defend against incoming threats, including tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft. Thirteen nations – the U.S., Germany, Kuwait, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Romania, Poland, and Sweden have chosen PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE to provide missile defense capabilities.

Building on the combat-proven PAC-3, the PAC-3 MSE uses a two-pulse solid rocket motor that increases altitude and range to defend against evolving threats.

The official ceremony on September 18, 2020, for the delivery of the first Raytheon PAC-3 MSE Patriot air defense missile system to Romania. (Picture source: Romania MoD)