Romania has said it will acquire the Iron Dome missile defense system used by Israel to protect the NATO country from short-range missiles.
Defense minister Ionuț Moșteanu told Romanian television that a deal would be signed this year with manufacturer Rafael “to defend our cities.”
Romania has raised the alarm over the spate of drones and missiles which have landed on its territory during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which it borders.
Roger Hilton, defense research fellow at the Slovakia-based think tank GLOBSEC, told Newsweek Thursday that repeated air violations from Russian drones in Ukraine had forced Bucharest to implement a stronger deterrence system.
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Why It Matters
It was reported in September 2024 that debris from missiles and drones from the war in Ukraine were landing in Romania.
Russia’s full-scale invasion had already sparked alarm among NATO members in Europe and Bucharest has repeatedly scrambled fighter jets after drones breached its airspace.
While there is no proof that Russia deliberately fired anything into the NATO country, Bucharest’s move for an Iron Dome defense highlights concern about Moscow’s threat to the alliance whose charter’s Article 5 states an attack on one member is an attack on all.
What To Know
Moșteanu announced Bucharest wants to import the Iron Dome air defense system, local outlet G4media.ro reported.
He said the system—also used by Israel—would protect Romania from attacks with short and very short-range missiles and a contract for the SHORAD-VSHORAD air defense system is to be signed this autumn with manufacturer Rafael.
He said that images of the system protecting Tel Aviv during Iranian missile and drone attacks showed its effectiveness.
“It will protect us too. Whether it’s airports, military bases or, God forbid, we need to defend our cities,” Moșteanu told TVR, according to a translation.
Hilton told Newsweek an Iron Dome system on NATO’s eastern flank shows a larger trend across the alliance of bolstering air defense systems against projectiles due to Russia’s push to produce short-range tactical missiles and drones.
The Iron Dome system would be only one layer of air defense for Romania, and an expensive one at that, he said.
As allies start to deliver on their pledge to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on core capabilities, future similar announcements on air defense systems should be expected, according to Hilton.
“As these systems come online, it will surely be met with derision and false claims of escalation from the Kremlin,” Hilton added.
Israeli media first reported in 2022 about Romania’s intention to become the first European country to acquire the system, which has been used by Israel since 2011 with a price tag of $150 million for each battery and $50,000 for each rocket.
What People Are Saying
Cristi Berea, member of Romania’s defense committee on X: “Romania takes a giant step for defense! The acquisition of the Iron Dome system is a historic decision.
“A modern, battle-tested shield that will protect lives and infrastructure. Safety is not a luxury — it is a priority.”
Defense minister Ionuț Moșteanu, per Romanian media: “These are defensive missile batteries that we don’t have, and we need them.”
Roger Hilton, defense research fellow at the Slovakia-based think tank GLOBSEC: “Repeated air violations and collateral spillover from the continued deployment of [drones] by Russia against Ukraine reached its limits, forcing policymakers in Romania to implement a stronger more escalatory deterrence system.”
What Happens Next
Romanian outlet DeFapt.ro noted that the plans to get the system has problems as it is not an integrated one and has “major technical inconsistencies” with radars coming from Poland, and missiles from Israel, without having been bought by other NATO states.
The deal is due to be signed this fall but Israel has banned exports of ammunition and military equipment until the end of the conflicts it is involved in “so the missiles will not arrive in Romania anytime soon,” B1TV reported, according to a translation.
Meanwhile, Moșteanu said that Romania’s new president Nicușor Dan will lay out a new defense policy for the Black Sea, in a strategy that will include fellow NATO member Turkey as a key factor.
