July 12 (SeeNews) - The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the State Department has cleared the sale of seven Patriot air defence systems to Romania for an estimated $3.9 billion (3.42 billion euro).
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Romania for Patriot air defense systems, related support and equipment," DSCA said in a press release on Tuesday. "This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded."
In March, Romania requested the possible sale of seven Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units consisting of seven radar sets, seven engagement control stations, 13 antenna mast groups and 28 launching stations. Also included are 56 Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-TBM missiles, 168 Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles and seven Electrical Power Plants III.
Under the possible deal, Romania will also get equipment for communications, tools, test, training and support, prime movers, generators, technical documentation, spare and repair parts, personnel training and full technical support.
DSCA said that the proposed sale of the Patriot system will support Romania’s needs for its own self-defence and support NATO defence goals.
The prime contractors will be US defense giants Raytheon Corporation and Lockheed-Martin.
"Romania will use the Patriot missile system to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. The proposed sale will increase the defensive capabilities of the Romanian military to guard against aggression and shield the NATO allies who often train and operate within Romania’s borders. Romania should have no difficulty absorbing this system into its armed forces," the agency said.
The proposed sale of these missiles and equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region, it added.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require approximately 30 U.S. Government and 40 contractor representatives to travel to Romania for an extended period for equipment de-processing, fielding, system checkout, training, and technical and logistics support.
Romania, a NATO member since 2004, has committed to allocate 2% of its 2017 GDP for defense.
($=0.8777 euro)