Romania is discussing with Ukraine the development and joint production of drones in a 200 million euro project funded through the European SAFE program. Minister of Defense Radu Miruță says the focus is no longer just on equipment acquisition, but on building its own production and innovation capacity.
The discussions took place on Tuesday in Bucharest between Miruță and the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration, Sergiy Boyev, according to a MApN press release.
In a message later posted on Facebook, the Minister of Defense explained the change in strategy.
"In defense, it is no longer enough to buy. You need to know how to produce, adapt, and innovate. And that's what we are doing now," conveyed Radu Miruță.
He emphasized that Romania aims to capitalize on Ukraine's experience in war, especially in the use of drones.
"The Romanian Army must capitalize on everything that has already been proven to be effective. And Ukraine undoubtedly has one of the most relevant experiences in the world in using drones in real combat conditions," the minister stated.
200 million euro project with technology transfer
According to MApN, officials discussed options for the production of unmanned aircraft, including technological transfer variants, within the strategic partnership between the two countries.
"The project benefits from a 200 million euro funding through the SAFE program and has a clear objective: for Romania to not only be a beneficiary but an active part in building its own defense capabilities," Miruță conveyed.
The minister specified that authorities are already working on forming a dedicated team, and the deadline for signing the contract is the end of May.
Production in Romania with Ukrainian know-how
The Romanian official insisted that the project aims at developing a local industry, not just one-time acquisitions.
"We are not just talking about acquisitions, but about the ability to produce here, in Romania, cutting-edge technology, with know-how transfer and a continuous innovation line," Miruță explained.
According to him, Romania is set to benefit from Ukraine's practical experience, while Kyiv would gain from financing production within the European program.
Technical discussions to follow
Technical cooperation continues. In the coming days, meetings with specialists and companies in the field are scheduled.
"Tomorrow, 15 Ukrainian companies producing drones will present their technical portfolios to determine how the needs of the Romanian Army overlap with production capabilities," the minister announced.
According to MApN, the discussions focus on solutions that can be rapidly implemented, in the context of accelerating the modernization of the army.