The Romanian government has signed a letter of offer and acceptance to formalize its plan to acquire 32 Lockheed Martin fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft through a Foreign Military Sales agreement with the United States. According to Lockheed, the F-35s will be integrated with the Romanian Air Force’s F-16 squadrons.
Romania hosts the European F-16 Training Center, which was established in 2023 in partnership with the Netherlands to ensure full preparations for safe and effective pilot missions.
Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, head of the F-35 Joint Program Office, welcomed Romania as the latest member of the F-35 enterprise. “The integration of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft into the Romanian Air Force will significantly strengthen NATO’s deterrence capabilities by providing unmatched strategic, operational and tactical advantages,” he said.
Strategic Defense Partnership
Kathleen Kavalec, U.S. ambassador to Romania, described the LOA signing as a “significant milestone” in the strategic U.S.-Romania defense partnership.
“Romania’s decision to acquire these advanced fighter jets is a key step in the ongoing modernization of the Romanian Armed Forces and will contribute significantly to the long-term defense of the NATO alliance and our collective security,” she said.
The U.S. Department of State approved Bucharest’s F-35 purchase request worth a potential $7.2 billion in September. The deal also covers the procurement of 33 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and other related aircraft equipment and systems.
The F-35 has 20 global customers, with over 1,000 aircraft deployed having logged more than 940,000 flight hours.