The main elements making up the first PATRIOT High Surface-to-Air Missile system arrive in the country

Part of the main equipment that will make up the first PATRIOT High Surface-to-Air Missile system which will enter into the service of the Romanian Air Force arrived in Romania.

The equipment and its adjacent materiel will be transported to “General de brigadã Ion Bungescu” Air Defence National Training Center from Capu Midia, Constanța County, where the first missile system’s acceptance and reception will be made.

The acceptance testing will be finalized in the second part of October, being followed by the training of personnel manning the 74th PATRIOT Regiment in the specific configuration delivered to Romania.

The collective training of the crews will also continue in 2021, with the help of the US troops with a view of developing the operating and maintenance skills, and improving the techniques, tactics and procedures required to operate the system.

Following the entering into the service of the PATRIOT High Surface-to-Air Missile systems, the Romanian Military will increase its defence and deterrence capability thus, ensuring a better defence of the national air space, which is part of the NATO air space.

These pieces of equipment were preceded by ground, air and maritime transportations of logistic support, communication equipment as well as testing devices and simulation training equipment that are component parts of the PATRIOT.

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The procurement of the PATRIOT system was established by Law no. 222/2017 for the achievement of the “Ground-based air defence capability”, which is part of the Major Procurement Program “High Surface-to-Air Missiles (HSAM)”. The document stipulated the awarding of the contract to the Government of the United States of America for the procurement of seven newly manufactured 3+ configuration PATRIOT High Surface-to-Air Missile systems, respectively the major equipment, means of transportation, materiel, component parts, maintenance equipment, ammunition, initial logistic support and training service package, as well as cryptographic and special equipment.

The endorsement of the law was preceded by the previous approval of the Parliament with regard to the initiation of the acquisition, according to the provisions of Art. 51 Paragraph (2) from Government Ordinance 114/2011, considering the fact that the value estimated is bigger than 100 million Euros and the awaiting of the approval of the US Department of State with respect to the potential selling of several Patriot systems to Romania.

The main contractors of the package of equipment and services adjacent to the PATRIOT systems are the US Raytheon and Lockheed-Martin Companies.

Romania procured the most modern type on the market in terms of the hardware and software configuration of PATRIOT systems currently operated, tested in combat and able to engage all types of existing threats.

The Press Office