A 173rd Airborne Brigade paratrooper fires an FGM-148 Javelin missile during an exercise at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, in 2019. Romania is requesting an $80 million purchase of the anti-tank missiles and related gear. (Henry Villarama/U.S. Army)
Romania’s military buildup is moving forward with a plan to purchase more American-made missiles, marking the latest acquisition for a country that has bumped up defense spending over the past year.
The State Department on Tuesday greenlighted Romania’s request to purchase anti-tank Javelin missiles and related gear at a cost of $80 million.
The order, which still needs final approval from Congress, involves 263 Javelin FGM-148F missiles, 26 launch systems and associated equipment and training services.
The deal will improve Romania’s ability to counter current and future threats, the State Department said in its Tuesday statement. In November, Romania also received approval to buy 54 Abrams tanks worth $2.5 billion.
Romanian armed forces officer Florin Cotet asks questions at the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System summit in Bucharest, Romania, on Dec. 7, 2023. The gathering was a collaboration between U.S. Army V Corps soldiers and service members of NATO allies. (Devin McReynolds/U.S. Army Reserve)
U.S. Army Col. Wilbur Hsu speaks with a Polish soldier during the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System summit in Bucharest, Romania, on Dec. 7, 2023. U.S. Army V Corps troops and counterparts from NATO countries hosted the event, which was dedicated to HIMARS capabilities. (Devin McReynolds/U.S. Army Reserve)
The Javelin deal comes on the heels of a meeting in Bucharest between U.S. troops and NATO country counterparts that focused on the utility of another popular weapon, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
On Dec. 5, the U.S. Army’s V Corps hosted a HIMARS gathering in the Romanian capital that brought together experts on the system.
Both the Javelin and HIMARS have played central roles in Ukraine’s defense in the ongoing war with Russia.
In April, V Corps held a similar summit with allies in Poland. Army commanders say the HIMARS, with its long range, light weight and mobility, can play a key role in large-scale combat operations.
The Romania summit covered lessons learned by the U.S. and NATO allies in conjunction with their “continued support of Ukraine and the importance of HIMARS use,” the Army said in a statement Thursday.
Soldiers from U.S. artillery units operating in Europe were among those taking part in the talks.
