Romania is due to become the second Lynx operator on NATO’s eastern flank Hungary purchased 218 vehicles in 2020.
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has completed contract with Romania worth 5.7 billion euros to purchase 300 Lynx combat vehicles, Skyranger defense systems, medium-caliber ammunition and naval vessels.
It is the largest international contract in the German giant’s recent history and is part of the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program.
The Romania’s Directorate General for Armaments made the order o May 29, according to a statement.
“To fulfill the orders, Rheinmetall will significantly expand its existing capacities in Romania, which have been in place for many years, and will also ensure technology transfer,” it noted, adding that it is “set to invest several hundred million euros” in the south-eastern European nation. Deliveries will run from 2028 to 2030.
The list of new equipment covers 298 Lynx vehicles, most of which will be armored personnel carriers, accompanied by other reconnaissance, command post and medical; a number of Skyranger air defense systems; as well as medium-caliber ammunition for air defense and armored personnel carriers.
Romania is due to become the second Lynx operator on NATO’s eastern flank after Hungar ordered 2018 vehicles at a cost of more than 2 billion euros.
In September, Romanian said that it would benefit from a SAFE allocation of €16.68 billion, and the funding would go toward a series of “eligible projects” including ground-based air defense systems, air surveillance radars, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, combat and support ships, missiles and drones.
Romania is the second largest beneficiary of the €150 billion SAFE scheme after Poland. The scheme offers EU member states loans to bolster defense spending and finance high profile acquisitions
