Moldova has formally received 29 new High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles from the US in a ceremony held at Military Camp 142.
Washington donated the armored vehicles, also known as Humvees, worth $8.9 million under a foreign military financing program.
The Humvees were produced last year and delivered to the Republic of Moldova in January 2025.
Chișinău’s “Lightning” Special Purpose Battalion will operate the platforms to “increase interoperability with other armies in training activities and joint exercises,” said Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi during the handover ceremony.
“This batch of assistance is an eloquent example of effective and long-term cooperation between the defense institutions of the Republic of Moldova and the United States, which confirms that we have the same goals — to ensure peace and security,” he added.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires in Moldova, Daniela DiPierro, noted that the US is “proud to work with the people and government of Moldova to modernize the National Army and better equip Moldova’s military to ensure the security of citizens.”
The US donated a total of $90 million to modernize Moldova’s armed forces in the past five years.
The Humvee
Made for a wide range of missions, the Humvee armored vehicle has undergone several configurations since it was first produced in the 1980s.
The donated units to Moldova have a gross weight of 6 tons when fully loaded with personnel and equipment, and include systems for heating, air conditioning, and communications.
Meanwhile, the US Army contracted Oshkosh Defense in 2015 and AM General in 2023 to develop a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle as a replacement for its aging Humvees.
