Romanian Defense Ministry denies having selected winner to modernize frigates

The public tender for modernizing two frigates of the Romanian Naval Force doesn’t yet have a winner. The bids for the RON 840 million (EUR 188 million) contract are still being assessed, according to the Arms Department within the Defense Ministry. A different information surfaced at the end of July when Turkish company Havelsan wrote on its website that it had been awarded the contract for the Romanian frigates’ modernization. The company took part at the public tender in an association formed of STM Teknolojileri Muhendislik, Havelsan Hava Teknolojileri Sanayi, ASELSAN Elektronik Sanayi, and Centrul pentru Servicii de Radiocomunicatii. Romanian authorities have denied the information claiming that the bidders’ offers are currently being assessed. Four joint ventures are fighting for the contract to modernize the King Ferdinand and Queen Maria frigates, which Romania bought from the United Kingdom in 2003. editor@romania-insider.com