Romania’s Ministry of National Defence has announced the selection of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for its Very Short and Short Range Air Defense (V/SHORAD) program, concluding a competitive acquisition process.
The decision follows an evaluation led by the Directorate General for Armaments through the state-owned defense company CN Romtehnica S.A. No formal objections were raised during the legal standstill period, paving the way for a framework agreement to be signed in the near future.
The program, valued at approximately €1.9 billion (around $2.2 billion) excluding VAT, is part of Romania’s broader plan to modernize its air defense architecture. The V/SHORAD acquisition is intended to strengthen the country’s ability to counter aerial threats at low and medium altitudes, complementing other existing or planned systems, such as long-range surface-to-air missiles and man-portable air defense systems.
Romania's defense ministry indicated that the project, first approved by Parliament in 2020 and initiated formally in 2023, may benefit from European funding instruments. The ministry cited the ASAP and EDIRPA initiatives as potential channels, coordinated under the EU’s SAFE mechanism, to partially offset procurement costs.
While specific details about the chosen system were not disclosed, Rafael’s existing air defense offerings include the Spyder system, which has been deployed by several NATO countries. The ministry noted that the selection process involved comprehensive technical and commercial evaluations and emphasized that the contract framework would allow for phased deliveries and long-term support across multiple military zones, in line with NATO standards.
The final contract is expected to be signed soon, with initial deliveries to follow according to the established procurement schedule.