Romania to spend over €1 billion on H225M helicopters and Thales radars under EU SAFE programme

The Romanian Ministry of National Defence signed two purchase orders under the EU‑funded SAFE (Security Action for Europe) programme. The first order contracts Airbus for 12 H225M Caracal multi‑mission helicopters, valued at about €757 million, with support and training packages. The second order contracts Thales for 12 Ground Master 200 MM/A air‑surveillance radars, valued at roughly €247 million. Together the contracts exceed €1 billion and are slated for phased delivery through 2030.

The agreements include industrial cooperation: Thales will expand its presence in Romania with around 1,000 highly‑qualified staff and will produce radar antennas locally; Airbus will establish a final‑assembly line for the helicopters at IAR Brașov, and the Ghimbav plant will be re‑tooled for production. French defence minister Catherine Vautrin highlighted the deals as strengthening European defence interoperability.

Deliveries will begin about a year after signing for the radars and three years later for the helicopters, with logistics and personnel training bundled in the contracts.