US Approves $280 Million Patriot System Sale to Romania

The US State Department has approved the possible sale of a Patriot air defense system and related equipment to Romania for an estimated $280 million.

Bucharest requested one AN/MPQ-65 configuration 3+ increment 3 radar set, one AN/MSQ-132 engagement control station, and two M903 launching stations.

Also part of the sale is a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement launcher conversion kit, AN/TPX-57v1 identification friend or foe, and Defense Advanced GPS Receivers.

“The proposed sale will improve Romania’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling it to field a credible force to deter adversaries and support its participation in NATO operations,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote.

RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin are the principal contractors for the possible sale.

Five US government and five US contractor representatives are required to travel to Romania for up to three years as part of the sale in support of equipment fielding and training.

Replacement for Ukraine Donation

The purchase, which is expected to be approved by the US Congress, is a replacement for a Patriot system Romania donated to Ukraine in 2024.

The procurement is partially funded by Norway and Sweden to the tune of 1.4 billion Norwegian kronor ($124 million) and 300 million Swedish kronor ($27 million), respectively.

“Romania is in need of financial means to be able to reacquire Patriot-type projectiles, sensors and other equipment as a replacement for the systems that the country donated to Ukraine in 2024,” the Swedish Ministry of Defence stated in January.

Bucharest signed deals in 2017 and 2020 for the purchase of seven Patriot systems from the US, receiving four of them.

Earlier in January, the southeastern European country signed a $946-million deal with RTX for the procurement of an additional Patriot system.