Romania’s Defense Ministry confirmed it will become the first European country to procure an Israeli Iron Dome system, signing a €2 billion ($2.3 billion) framework agreement with Israel to acquire short- and very short-range air defense systems.
“The framework agreement provides for the signing of three subsequent contracts, through which six integrated SHORAD-VSHORAD [short-range air defenses and very short-range air defenses] anti-aircraft systems will be acquired,” along with training and simulation systems, ammunition, logistical support, and more, the Romanian Defense Ministry said.
The systems, developed by Israel’s government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are designed to intercept low-altitude threats such as drones, missiles, and aircraft.
“RO & IL take their strategic cooperation in defense industry, already solid, to the next level consolidating a partnership based on trust and mutual reinforcement,” Romania’s Ambassador to Israel, Radu Ioanid tweeted on Tuesday.