Romanian Army enters new era with first US-supplied Patriot missile exercise.

The Romanian Army's 74th Patriot Regiment recently conducted the country's first live-fire exercise with the Patriot PAC-3 MSE missile system on November 15-16, 2023, at the Capu Midia test firing range. This event marks a significant development in Romania's military capabilities, aligning with its ongoing defense modernization efforts.
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The Romanian Army's 74th Patriot Regiment recently conducted the country's first live-fire exercise with the Patriot missile system on November 15-16, 2023, at the Capu Midia test firing range. (Picture source: US DoD)

The process leading to this exercise began with the US State Department's approval in 2017 for the foreign military sale of Patriot PAC-3 MSE air defense systems to Romania at an estimated cost of $3.9 billion. The first of these systems, part of a contract for seven units, was delivered in 2020, enhancing Romania's air defense infrastructure.

The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) is a surface-to-air guided missile defense system designed to intercept various airborne threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and objects from outer space such as satellites and ballistic missiles. Designed by Lockheed Martin, this system represents the latest variant of the Patriot missile series, featuring updates in technology and capabilities.

The Patriot system integrates radars, command-and-control technology, and a variety of interceptors, to be able to engage multiple targets simultaneously. The PAC-3 MSE also exhibits an increased range of about 35 km, an improvement over the 20 km range of its predecessor, the PAC-3. This extended range enables the system to engage threats at an earlier stage and over a broader area.

In 2020, the first Patriot unit's delivery to Romania was marked by an official ceremony, reflecting the system's significance for the country's defense. In a move to further strengthen its air defense infrastructure, Romania, through its state-owned military equipment supplier Romarm and subsidiary Electromecanica Ploiesti, signed a contract with Raytheon Missiles & Defense in May 2022. This agreement facilitates the domestic production of SkyCeptor interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, marking a significant leap in domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.

In a parallel development, in part in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Romania has undertaken an ambitious expansion of its defense capabilities. For 2024, the Ministry of National Defense is expected to receive a record-breaking allocation of over 95 billion lei (approximately €20 billion), a funding nearly 45% higher than the 2023 budget. In the five-year period up to 2027, including the 2023 expenditure, Romania plans to invest almost 320 billion lei (approximately €64.4 billion) in its Army. This substantial increase will enable various military acquisitions and modernization plans.

These plans, including ongoing contracts, include a range of acquisitions, such as the Patriot and MANPADS air defense systems, M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 and K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, HIMARS rocket launchers, JLTVs and Piranha V armored vehicles, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, additional trucks, Polaris UTVs, Bayraktar TB-2 and Watchkeeper X drones, H215M and Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk combat helicopters, modernized F-16 fighter jets, and two combat submarines. Additionally, from 2024 to 2027, plans are in place to initiate procurement programs for infantry fighting vehicles, tactical drones, 5th-generation multirole aircraft (F35), and European patrol corvettes.

Overall, Romania's increased defense budget aligns with decisions made in previous NATO Summits coupled with a National Political Pact signed by Romanian parties. The country has consistently allocated 2% of its GDP to defense for seven consecutive years, with over 20% of the MApN budget dedicated to equipment purchases. From 2023, the defense spending increased to 2.5% of GDP, in accordance with decisions by the Supreme Council of Defense of the Country.