New Patriot contract for Romania

Raytheon has secured a $946 million contract with the Romanian MoD for Patriot fire units consisting of radars, control stations, and missiles according to a 3rd January Raytheon press release. Romania’s defence minister, Angel Tîlvăr, commended the January 2025 order stating, “The radars, control stations and missiles that will equip the next 3 Patriot systems for Romania, contracted in 2023, will strengthen Romania’s strategic air defense capabilities.” 

This order marks the third Romanian contract for the air defence system since 2020, with the first order valued at $4 billion covering the procurement of seven Patriot batteries, each consisting of four launchers, a control station, and radar. The initial order also included 56 PAC-2 GEM-T and 168 PAC-3 MSE interceptors. 

The first battery was delivered in 2020 and was operational by 2021, the second was received in 2022 and in service with the 74th PATRIOT Mihai Bravu Regiment in the country’s air force by February 2023. The third and fourth batteries were delivered over the course of 2022 and 2023 with acceptance and testing conducted throughout that time. Romania had plans to add three batteries to the Romanian Army, and in February 2023, Romania Insider reported that only four of the seven batteries had been paid for. 

Moreover, in 2023, Romania’s parliament initiated proceedings to purchase 200 additional PAC-2 missiles at an approximate value of EUR1 billion in a contract to COMLOG, the MBDA-Raytheon joint venture that provides logistics and support to Patriot operators. Each missile was valued at EUR5,444,000 according to a Romanian news outlet. 

Calibre comment

Russia sees the targeting of critical national infrastructure (CNI) as a key part of its ability to shape NATO decision-making in the opening phases of a confrontation or war. It is believed, or at least it was prior to 2022, that limited strikes against CNI could discourage an adversary from escalating, or decisively shape the unfolding war in Russia’s favour. This makes an effective air defence system across Europe an important component of deterrence as it demonstrates that Russia’s attempted missile strikes will be far less effective and unlikely to reach their targets. 

However, magazine depth is critical, as is a mixed inventory of interceptors. Russia can produce hundreds, if not thousands, of missiles and one way attack drones per year. And it deploys them in complex and structured attacks that require many interceptors to blunt. So, Romania’s order for additional interceptors and Europe’s efforts to stand up its own PAC-2 production are important steps in defending Europe’s skies. That it also has the ability to field PAC-3 missiles is also important, the image above shows two different launcher types; the larger canisters are designed to fire PAC-2 missiles, while the launcher with more and smaller canisters fires PAC-3 MSE, which has the ability to intercept ballistic missiles like Russia’s 9M723 Iskander. This means that Romania can provide defence against mixed strikes of cruise and ballistic missiles, which Russia often uses in a bid to overwhelm Ukraine’s defences. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 9th January 2025.