April 27 (SeeNews) - Romania's defence ministry is investing $321 million (290.4 million euro) in the acquisition of TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems from Turkish defence contractor Baykar, the company said.
The combat drones are to be delivered to the western city of Timisoara, where the Romanian Air Force used to operate the 93rd Air Base that housed MiG-23 fighter jets before they were retired, Baykar said in a press release on Tuesday.
"Once received, Romania will become the second EU country after Poland to operate TB2s and the third European NATO member to order them beyond Turkey," the manufacurer said.
Romania will pay for the TB2 drones in separate installments through the state-owned company Romtehnica, according to a contract award notice published on the Tenders Electronic Daily website, the European public procurement portal.
The defence ministry announced its intention to buy from Baykar three UAV systems, each of them comprising six drones, as well as the necessary logistical support, in September last year.
Founded in 1986, Baykar is a private Turkish defence company which employs 3,100, according to its website.
($=0.9047 euro)