The U.S. Department of State has approved the potential sale of 32 F-35 aircraft to Romania, along with engines and other equipment, in a deal valued at $7.2 billion, according to a Pentagon statement released on September 13. Lockheed Martin will be the primary contractor for the aircraft, and the order also includes 33 F135 engines—one for each aircraft, plus a spare—supplied by RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign military sales, stated on September 13 that the $7.2 billion aircraft deal had received the required approval from the U.S. Department of State.
“The proposed sale of 32 F-35 aircraft to Romania will enhance nations’s ability to meet current and future threats, equipping it with the tools to conduct self-defense and regional security missions, while also improving interoperability with the United States and other NATO members”, the State Department said in its approval notice.
Washington’s export approval paves the way for Romania to join the growing group of nations operating the fifth-generation stealth fighter. Including Romania, there are now 20 countries either already operating or in the process of acquiring the advanced F-35, including more than a dozen other NATO members. Romania, along with Poland and the Czech Republic, could potentially become a key F-35 operator in Eastern Europe.
This purchase would provide Romania with two F-35 squadrons. The Romanian government has also expressed its intention to acquire an additional 16 aircraft to form a third squadron in the future, with the goal of further strengthening its defense capabilities as a NATO member. This move would make Romania the largest F-35 operator on NATO’s eastern flank. The acquisition is part of a broader trend in the region, as NATO seeks to modernize its armed forces amidst growing security concerns.
If Bucharest reaches a final agreement with the aircraft’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, Romania could receive its first F-35s by 2030, with full delivery expected by 2031. In its June financial reports, the U.S. manufacturer indicated a backlog of 373 F-35 orders. Currently, Lockheed Martin produces 156 jets annually, primarily at its facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
The company resumed deliveries of new F-35s in July, following a year-long pause due to certification issues with the latest Technical Refresh 3 configuration of the fighter. However, Lockheed has already delivered more than 1,000 F-35s across its three variants.