Romania Considers Armed Uncrewed Vessels Following Ukraine Successes

The Romanian Navy is considering procuring armed uncrewed vessels after witnessing Ukrainian naval drone successes against the Russian Black Sea fleet.

It is one of several Romanian acquisition projects to modernize its naval fleet, including the Naval Strike Missile, amphibious assault vehicles, and two Airbus H215M helicopters featuring anti-surface vessel warfare capability.

There are “certain programs on which the naval forces are working intensively … in particular … maritime drones,” Defense Romania quoted Lieutenant General Teodor Incicas as saying.

The Black Sea country shares its northern border with Ukraine and is concerned that Russia’s next target could be Moldova, with which it shares its northeast border.

Additional Procurement

In addition, the Romanian Parliament recently approved the acquisition of two Scorpene submarines from France for an estimated 8 billion euros ($8.72 billion). 

The procurement is expected to span eight years with other planned acquisitions, including mine sweepers, maritime patrol vessels, and the modernization of frigates and missile carriers.

Unmanned Surface Vessels 

The Ukrainian Navy has conducted over a dozen sea attacks against a much bigger Russian Navy in the Black Sea using armed naval drones, damaging and sinking several naval vessels.

Russia’s naval fleet was pushed back into their home ports due to the attacks, helping restore Ukraine’s grain exports.

Ukraine’s first reported naval drone deployment was on October 20, 2022, targeting the Russian fleet on the coast of Crimea.

Since then, the improvised platform has progressively become more complex, featuring about a ton of explosives, flamethrowers, communication equipment, and missile launchers.