Interim National Defence Minister Radu Miruta announced that two procurement contracts were signed on Friday under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, providing for the delivery of 12 helicopters by Airbus and 12 radar systems by Thales.



'This is the latest situation regarding the SAFE contracts. Today, at 11:00, we signed the remaining contracts, namely those for 12 helicopters with Airbus and 12 radar systems from Thales. The helicopters will entail cooperation with the IAR Ghimbav platform for localisation. Deliveries will begin from month 38. As for the radar systems, we secured delivery of the first radar, which we urgently need because of the drones flying at low altitude, from month 11, so earlier than a year and a half. These contracts, as they are part of joint procurement, were managed by the French Ministry of Defence, which collected contributions from the countries participating in the joint purchase. The price of the helicopters is significantly lower through this joint procurement. We also held separate discussions with these companies, asking them to localise production in Romania. (...) We succeeded in having these companies' obligations regarding localisation in Romania incorporated into the contract we have with the French Government,' Miruta told a news conference.

The interim Defence Minister mentioned that contracts worth EUR 7.5 billion have so far been signed on schedule under the SAFE programme.

Further contracts are to be signed by 2030, including a EUR 200 million agreement to build drones, with Ukraine as a partner. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eusebi Manolache; EN - writing by: Rodica State)

Display count: 625