Romania will become a strategic hub in the production of NATO-compatible ammunition with the establishment of the NATO Ammunition Excellence Center in Dragomirești, Dâmbovița County.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Minister of Economy, Bogdan Ivan, during a visit to the Dragomirești Special Products Factory, a subsidiary of the national company ROMARM.
"It is a major, strategic investment that marks the strengthening of partnerships we have with the United States of America and the new administration," said the Minister of Economy, as quoted by News.ro.
Investment of 220 million dollars, through partnership with the US and General Dynamics
The center will be established based on an agreement between the Romanian state and the US government, which includes attracting a 220 million dollars credit under extremely advantageous conditions.
The project also involves bringing cutting-edge American technology to Romania through a partnership with General Dynamics.
Within this center, 120 mm and 155 mm NATO-compatible ammunition will be produced for Abrams tanks and K9 howitzers. Romania will thus become the only country in the European Union with production capacity for these types of ammunition, both for its own armed forces and for export within the EU.
Romania aims for strategic independence and industrial capacity for export
Bogdan Ivan emphasized that the investment in Dragomirești will be treated as "a business" and that Romania must become a net exporter of ammunition in the international market.
"It is essential to have proper partnerships that ensure our ability to produce locally everything we need in crisis situations. We no longer have to wait for occasional orders," the minister said.
At the same time, Romania will seek to attract funds from the European Commission's financing mechanism, amounting to 150 billion euros, for expanding military production capacities.
2025 - Record year in investments for the defense industry
The Ministry of Economy announces that 2025 will mark a tripling of investments compared to the previous year in the defense industry. Among the strategic projects planned are:
- Gunpowder factory
- Manufacturing lines for 155 mm and 120 mm ammunition
- Production of RDX and TNT in Făgăraș
- Drones produced at Carfil Brașov
- Obtaining the Airbus license at IAR Ghimbav for the H215 helicopter
For the production line in Dragomirești, the initial investment is 30 million lei, and implementation is planned by the end of the year.
Minister Bogdan Ivan sent a clear message to the management of companies under the Ministry of Economy: "Those who excel will be rewarded, and those who do not perform will no longer be part of the team."