The Romanian Ministry of Defense is finalizing the procurement of up to 48 fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. Last September, the Romanian Supreme Council of Defense (CSAT) approved the planned purchase of two squadrons, comprising 32 fighter jets, and an additional squadron of 16 units in the second phase. Now, the Ministry of Defense promises a strong possibility of “lots of good news” this year, possibly including signing the contract.

Romanian authorities are currently awaiting the US response to their Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), for which all necessary documentation has already been submitted. According to sources from the ministry and local media outlet Defense Romania, this response is expected in the fall of next year. This will pave the way for the signing of the contract in the coming months, as indicated by Defense Minister Angel Tilvar.

If the purchase is formalized this year, as the Ministry of Defense suggests, the first F-35 could be delivered around 2030. In the meantime, Romania is strengthening its air force with F-16 fighter jets, also American. These will initially be purchased second-hand from Portugal (17 units) and later from Norway (another 32 units).

This massive initiative is considered Romania’s most expensive military undertaking to date. The estimated total amount is €6.5 billion plus VAT for the purchase of 32 advanced fighter jets in the initial phase. This amount includes the aircraft, their engines, air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, as well as logistical support, training services and flight simulators.

Romania’s CSAT took the first official steps to acquire these new fighter jets in April 2023, announcing its intention to proceed with the operation. This purchase positions Romania as the twelfth (perhaps thirteenth, depending on how the Czech Republic’s efforts progress) European nation to welcome the advanced model from US defense giant Lockheed Martin.

Spain, awaiting

In an official report in 2019, the US identified five countries as potential buyers of the F-35 aircraft: Romania, Singapore, Greece, Poland and Spain. Today, all of them, except Spain, have announced plans to purchase these advanced jets. Spain, however, is expected to follow suit, mainly to equip its naval carrier, Juan Carlos I, with the F-35B model, known for its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.

Thirteen European countries own or are in the process of acquiring the F-35. Five of these countries are actively participating in the US-led programme for this fighter: the United Kingdom (74 units ordered), Italy (90), Norway (52), the Netherlands (52) and Denmark (27). The remaining eight countries have also opted for the F-35, including Poland (32), Greece (40), Finland (64), Switzerland (36), Germany (initially 35, with plans to acquire eight more for a total of 43), Belgium (34), the Czech Republic (24) and Romania (48). Portugal, which is targeting 24 units, is also in the early stages of securing its own fleet of F-35s.

‘Coming out of the valley’

Lockheed Martin, a leading American defense company, has started deliveries of its upgraded F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the TR-3 configuration. After almost a year of delay, the exciting news was shared on X: “We recently began taking delivery of the F-35 in the TR-3 configuration. These modernized aircraft are equipped with combat training capabilities, a critical step toward full operational capability.”

On July 19, the U.S. received two F-35 fighters in this latest configuration. One is now stationed at Dannelly Field, Alabama, with the Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing, and the other at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Lockheed Martin has about 100 F-35 fighters in its warehouses, according to BulgarianMilitary.com, all awaiting their TR-3 upgrades before shipping them to both domestic and international customers.

The TR-3 upgrade will dramatically improve the aircraft’s computing power, memory and data processing capabilities, ensuring the F-35 maintains its leadership in modern military technology. At the heart of this upgrade is a new integrated core processor, expected to be more than 25 times more powerful than the existing system. This boost will enable faster data processing and superior performance in critical situations.

A major highlight of the TR-3 upgrade is the introduction of a new panoramic display system in the cockpit. This provides pilots with an intuitive and comprehensive view of the battlefield, significantly improving situational awareness and decision-making. In addition, the TR-3 upgrade brings improvements to the F-35’s electronic warfare capabilities.

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