The Supreme Council of National Defence of Romania has decided to purchase fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets.

The decision was made on Tuesday, April 11.

The purchase of new fighter jets is related to the further modernization of the country’s air force and the expansion of its combat capabilities.

Specifically, the development of the air force, anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense, as well as high-precision weapons, including those with long-range radius, were discussed during the meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT).

The meeting also approved the concept of equipping Romania’s aviation with F-35 aircraft.

The statement says that F-35 fighter jets are supplied with modern equipment. These fighter jets are also able to exchange encrypted information with air and ground systems in real-time. Aircraft are capable of using high-precision aviation ammunition of various types.

“These fighter jets will make it possible to ensure and maintain superiority in the air, which is a mandatory condition for ensuring the sovereignty of the country’s airspace and, if necessary, its defense,” – the Supreme Council of National Defence of Romania noted in its statement.

Last month, Major General Teodor Incicaș, Head of the General Directorate for Armaments at the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, announced the country’s plans to start procedures for signing a contract to purchase F-35 fighter jets in 2023 or next year.

It was announced that the Ministry of Defense plans to receive the first squadron of fighter jets after 2030.

Incicaș emphasized that the F-35 procurement program is complex and will require investments, including in the country’s military infrastructure. To receive the first squadron of aircraft in the 2030s, Romania needs to conduct comprehensive steps, such as infrastructure analysis and investments in it. Aircraft acquisition is also a complex process in terms of coordination and delivery.

As of now, the main fighter jet of the Romanian Air Force is the F-16. The country has 17 aircraft. Twelve F-16AM/BM were purchased in 2013 from Portugal, and five more from the U.S. Air Force.

In 2022, Romania also purchased an additional 32 Norwegian F-16s for € 388 million. The country will be equipped with three F-16 squadrons after receiving them. It is reported that the service life of Norwegian aircraft will end in about 10 to 15 years. However, their resource is quite sufficient, as they are considered a transition stage to the F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.