The US State Department has approved the sale of up to 186 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Romania.
Along with the AMRAAMS, Bucharest also requested four AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections and related items, including AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles, missile containers, propulsion sections, control sections, telemetry kits, and warhead spares.
To Enhance F-16’s Combat Capability
The estimated $592 million potential sale will improve the air-to-air capability of the Romanian Air Force’s F-16 fleet, enhancing its capacity to defend its airspace against potential incursions.
The potential sale will improve Romania’s capability to “conduct self-defense and regional security missions while enhancing interoperability with the US and other NATO members,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated.
A total of 300 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles have already been approved for sale by the US State Department for Romania.
The AIM-9X is a short-range air-to-air missile outfitted on aircraft such as the F-16.
Romania’s F-16 Fleet Acquisition
Romania bought a total of 32 used F-16s from Norway after retiring its fleet of Soviet-era Mig-21s in 2023.
It will enhance Romania’s fleet of 17 F-16s bought earlier from Portugal.
The used aircraft will be serviced before induction, for which the US has already approved the sale of modernization equipment and services for an estimated $105 million.