Romania’s Defence Ministry has submitted a request to parliament to purchase 200 PAC-2 GEM-T missiles for the country’s Patriot system to stay prepared amid the current security crisis in the region.
Forwarded to the Defence Committees on Monday after submission to the Joint Permanent Bureaus of the two chambers, the request focuses on strengthening combat stocks in the context of the regional security crisis.
This is essential to operationalise and strengthen air defence capabilities within the major equipment programme, High Range Surface to Air Missile Systems (HSAM)/Patriot.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) will procure the missiles.
The Patriot system is the latest and most expensive addition to the Romanian Army, procured in 2017 for approximately $3.9 billion. It includes seven new Patriot air defence systems bundled with 56 PAC-2 GEM-T missiles.
The maximum unit cost is approximately €5.4 million (excluding VAT), with an estimated total package cost of about €1 million (excluding VAT).
The first Patriot system will be delivered to the Romanian Air Force in 2020.
During the PATRIOT SPARK 23 exercise in November, the system underwent its first live firing at the Capu Midia range.
The aim of the exercise was to “validate and verify the operation of the first PATRIOT surface-to-air missile system supplied in 2020, as well as prepare for enhancing operational capacity”, according to the Defence Ministry.
(Cătălina Mihai, Sebastian Rotaru | Euractiv.ro)
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