Romania will order fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, but will not start receiving the aircraft until 2032 at the earliest

Romania may become an official customer for the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets in the coming months. However, deliveries will have to wait almost 10 years.

Here's What We Know

In early March, it became known that Romania wanted to order F-35 fighter jets. About a month later, the country's Supreme National Security Council made a final decision on the purchase of fifth-generation aircraft.

In the coming autumn, the upcoming deal will be discussed in Parliament. The contract is expected to be concluded in 2024. In that case, deliveries of the F-35 Lightning II will begin in 2032. This was announced by Minister of National Defence Angel Tîlvăr.

Romanian authorities have not yet officially specified how many aircraft the country plans to order. There is also no information about the cost. It is likely to be about 32 fighters, which will allow to form one squadron of F-35s at two air bases.

To understand the prices, last year Germany ordered 35 aircraft worth €8.3bn. However, the contract, in addition to the aircraft, includes 37 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines, as well as AGM-158B JASSM and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.

Romania recently decommissioned its Soviet MiG-21 fighter jets, after which it was left exclusively with the US F-16 Fighting Falcon. In the future, the Romanian Air Force will receive 32 F-16 AM/BM aircraft in the M6.5.2 configuration, which were purchased from Norway for approximately $400 million. Deliveries will begin in late 2023.

Source: TVR INFO