The three programs improving the defense capabilities of the Navy are an integral part of the transformation of the Romanian army that will be implemented by 2040, carried out by the European Union and NATO allies, and for which it is necessary to increase offensive capability, firepower and adaptability. And the chances of survival of combat formations, meeting the requirements of the 21st century for the acquisition of weapons and combat equipment – read the justification of the mod.
The ministry wants to improve surface and underwater naval combat capabilities, and the submarines to be purchased aim to destroy, neutralize, or deter enemy ships, and carry out reconnaissance operations.
They will have to carry out their tasks in cooperation with Allied ships or independently, in international or even hostile waters, in dangerous areas, when appropriate, at a great distance from the base, reads the text submitted to Parliament.
According to the Bucharest media, Romania is going to buy Scorpene-class submarines – produced by the French company Naval Group: last summer, the then Defense Minister Vasile Dincu signed a letter of intent with his French partner. So far, there is no official information about how many submarines MPAN wants and how much money it will spend on this program, but the former head of the ministry, Mihai Feuer, said years ago that they plan to acquire three submarines, and current Defense Minister Agil Telfar told parliament in his message He referred to the fact that the acceleration of the modernization of the Romanian army became possible after Romania increased its defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP from 2023.
In Romania, prior parliamentary approval is required to initiate public deals worth more than 100 million euros, and for the Ministry of Defense to start direct negotiations with potential partners. According to Agripress, the launch of programs aimed at developing the navy will be decided at a joint session of the bicameral parliament.
Romania has a Soviet-made Kilo-class submarine that was commissioned in 1985, but it has not left the military port of Constanta since 1996, as its batteries – and at the same time other equipment – have become unusable. According to Romanian Public Television, the 73-meter Delfinul has spent nearly 2,000 hours underwater in the Black Sea during a decade of activity, with fifty sailors on board, and fired 34 torpedoes.
Cover image: Getty Images
