Romania Secures New Short‑Range Air Defence Systems from Rheinmetall and Rafael

The Romanian government has placed two major orders to strengthen its short‑range and very‑short‑range air‑defence capability.

Rheinmetall will supply 24 Lynx Skyranger 35 systems mounted on the Lynx KF41 tracked platform, together with seven Skynex units and two Millennium Guns for maritime protection. The contract, part of a €5.7 billion procurement programme announced earlier, will be produced locally by Rheinmetall Automecanica and is presented as a response to recent drone incursions, aiming to protect troops and critical infrastructure on NATO’s eastern flank.

Separately, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence signed its first contract under a framework with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for Spyder SHORAD‑VSHORAD air‑defence kits. Valued at 3.049 billion lei (about €2 billion), the deal includes one integrated SHORAD‑VSHORAD system, three VSHORAD units, a SHORAD system, training, simulation and logistics support, with the first two VSHORAD units to be delivered within three years. The Spyder system, featuring Python‑5 and I‑Derby missiles, is intended to counter drones, cruise missiles, helicopters and low‑altitude aircraft. Both contracts are part of Romania’s broader modernisation effort to enhance national security and NATO interoperability.