The US State Department has made a determination approving a sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to Romania.
The approval also covers related support and equipment. The estimated cost is $1.25 billion.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress, this is displayed below:
“The Government of Romania has requested the possible sale of fifty-four (54) High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) Launchers, eighty-one (81) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) M31A1 Unitary, eighty-one (81) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) M30A1 Alternative Warhead, fifty-four (54) Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) M57 Unitary, twenty-four (24) Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS), fifteen (15) M1151A1 HMMWVs, Utility, Armored, and fifteen (15) M1151A1 HMMWVs, Armor Ready 2-Man.
Also included with this request are: fifty-four (54) M1084A1P2 HIMARS Resupply Vehicles (RSVs) (5 ton, Medium Tactical Cargo Vehicle with Material Handling Equipment), fifty-four (54) M1095 MTV Cargo Trailer with RSV kit, and ten (10) M1089A1P2 FMTV Wreckers (5 Ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Wrecker with Winch), thirty (30) Low Cost Reduced Range (LCRR) practice rockets, support equipment, communications equipment, sensors, spare and repair parts, test sets, batteries, laptop computers, publications and technical data, facility design, training and training equipment, systems integration support, Quality Assurance Teams and a Technical Assistance Fielding Team, U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $1.25 billion.”
According to the release, the sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally that has been, and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress within Europe.
The prime contractors will be Lockheed-Martin in Grand Prairie, Texas and Camden, Arkansas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require approximately the assignment of up to 10 US Government or contractor representatives to travel to Romania for a period of up to one year for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout, training, and technical and logistics support.
I can’t help feeling that their money would be better spent on their small and ageing air force. They have handful of second hand F16s bought from Portugal and even older MIG21s which are barely serviceable. If they are concerned about Russian aggression then they should have a good number of 4th Gen fighter aircraft, helicopters, and decent SAM systems. By the time they got to use these missile systems the Russians would already have air superiority, as they wouldn’t attack with ground forces until they do. Seems to me the best idea is to stop them gaining that air… Read more »
Before anyone comments on this, I do know that the US has a SAM battery stationed in their country and there have been reports of more F16 purchases, although nothing announced.
You’ll have noted they also ordered $3.9 billion worth of Patriot a few months ago.
Romania is concerned about ground warfare with pro Russian insurgents in Moldova.
Seems good value. This contract is providing a lot of firepower to Romanian ground forces.
suspect however that air defence would be a big problem for Romanian in any potential future conflict.