What You Need to Know: Romania has signed a $6.4 billion deal to purchase 32 F-35A Lightning II jets, marking a significant upgrade to its defense capabilities. The fifth-generation fighters, known for their stealth, speed, and advanced armament, will replace Romania’s current fleet of F-16s.
-This acquisition underscores Romania's commitment to NATO, with 2.4% of its GDP allocated to defense.
-The F-35A's "Beast Mode" capability allows it to carry up to 22,000 pounds of ordnance, making it a formidable addition to Romania's arsenal. The purchase aligns with Romania’s broader modernization efforts, including acquiring M1A2 Abrams tanks.
Romania has become the latest nation to procure the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
On November 21, the Romanian government penned a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to purchase 32 F-35A Lightning II jets, marking a major milestone for the country’s defense capabilities. The deal is valued at roughly $6.4 billion and reflects Romania’s prioritization of modernizing its armed forces.
In fact, Romania has also issued a firm commitment within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to allocate 2.4% of its GDP to defense.
In a press conference surrounding the deal, Romanian Prime Minister Tilvar applauded the acquisition: “The 32 aircraft for which the purchase contract was signed between the governments of Romania and the United States of America represent the pinnacle of aviation performance at this time worldwide and will ensure interoperability with NATO allies,” adding that “In the current security context, our partnership is stronger than ever, and the solidarity of the US with Romania, proven by the substantial presence of troops on the territory of our country, contributes to the strengthening of the defense of the Eastern flank of the Alliance, in the Black Sea region,” the defense minister said.
Widely considered to be the most formidable fifth-generation fighter in the skies today, the F-35 is highly coveted by nations across the globe. The Lockheed Martin-designed platform represents the best of American aerial innovation. From stealth and speed to armament power and technological advances, the Lightning II is pretty much unstoppable. The Joint Strike Fighter is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, which provides a top speed of Mach-1.6. The jet also features a sophisticated sensor fusion which provides greater situational awareness for the pilot.
In terms of ordinance power, the F-35 can pack a punch. The fifth-gen aircraft can transition into its “Beast Mode” when in combat mode, enabling it to carry up to 22,000 pounds of ordnance from advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, Sidewinders, and joint direct action munitions (JDAMS).
The Aviation Geek Club outlined the specifics of the F-35’s fighter side: “In stealth mode, the F-35 can carry 5,700 pounds of internal ordnance. Once air dominance is established, the fighter converts to beast mode, carrying up to 22,000 pounds of combined internal and external weapons.”
The Joint Strike Fighter can carry two AMRAAMs, six JDAMs, and two Sidewinders when it is in Beast Mode configuration.
Romania is set to acquire the F-35A variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. This conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) version functions like a more traditional jet, requiring roughly 8,000 feet of runways for take-off and landing.
Once Romania receives these fighters, they are expected to replace the country’s existing fleet of F-16s. Between 2016-2022, Romania acquired two batches of second-hand Fighting Falcons from Portugal and Norway. In addition to purchasing the F-35A, Romania is also buying the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) from the United States.
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
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