Endowing the Navy with multifunctional corvettes is a key project for 2018, said defense minister Mihai Fifor after a meeting with the heads of Romania’s Naval and Air Forces.

He added that the government will also unlock the program for modernizing the Navy’s two frigates and will create the necessary conditions to start the purchase of mobile anti-ship rocket systems, local Hotnews.ro reported.

“I’ve publicly said that 2018 is the year when we will start the major acquisition projects for the Navy and I stick to this statement,” Fifor said.

He also presented last year’s main achievements, namely finalizing the purchase of the first 12 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and signing the purchase of the first ground to air Patriot missile system. The Patriot program will continue this year, with the purchase of the second system.

At the same time, Romania is looking for options to buy another 36 F-16 fighters and to endow the Army with new helicopters.

editor@romania-insider.com