Romania Approves 2027-2036 Military Procurement Plan

Romania has approved a new military procurement plan covering 2027-2036, setting a 10-year framework for matching the Romanian Armed Forces' equipment requirements with rising defense expenditure. The Supreme Council of National Defense approved the plan on September 7 alongside a longer-term transformation program extending to 2044. 

The decision gives Bucharest a longer planning horizon as Romania expands procurement across armored vehicles, air defense, unmanned systems and other capabilities. It also connects future acquisition requirements with multiyear funding as Romania moves toward NATO's new spending targets.

Romania links 10-year procurement to higher defense spending

The Supreme Council of National Defense, known as CSAT, said the 2027-2036 procurement plan is designed to align operational equipment requirements with multiyear financial resources allocated to defense.

The plan provides for both strengthening existing capabilities and introducing new ones. Romanian authorities described the required capabilities as sustainable, flexible and mobile, with the objective of responding to current security risks and threats. 

Romania has committed to increase defense-related expenditure to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035 under the spending framework agreed by NATO allies at the 2025 Hague Summit. That target consists of 3.5% of GDP for core defense expenditure and another 1.5% for defense-related spending. 

The Romanian government has not publicly detailed every acquisition contained in the newly approved 2027-2036 plan. The CSAT announcement therefore establishes the strategic and financial framework rather than providing a complete list of future platforms or contract values.

SAFE procurement is already reshaping Romanian force structure

The new plan follows a major expansion of Romanian procurement under the European Union's Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, financing mechanism.

Romania received €16,680,055,394 under SAFE. A Romanian government decision published on August 28 allocated €9,702,184,144 to the Ministry of National Defense, €2,104,379,096 to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and €4.2 billion to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, with the remainder distributed among other national institutions. 

Several major Romanian Armed Forces programs are already moving through that framework.

The Ministry of National Defense signed a framework agreement with Rheinmetall Automecanica SRL for 298 tracked infantry fighting vehicles and derivatives, valued at €3.337 billion excluding VAT. Final vehicle production is planned in Romania at Mediaș, with Romanian production also covering elements including ballistic protection, weapon systems, armored hulls, communications and command-and-control software. 

Air defense represents another significant part of the current investment cycle. Romania's SAFE portfolio includes seven Skynex deployable ground-based air defense systems with C-RAM and counter-UAS capabilities, with the project valued at €476 million. 

The portfolio also includes Skyranger 35 very-short-range mobile air defense systems. Romania's Ministry of National Defense lists that project at €470 million. 

Romania has separately contracted Quantum Systems for 34 Vector Mini UAS Class I systems and 15 Scorpion kits for €30.7 million excluding VAT. Deliveries are scheduled for 2027. 

Romanian Armed Forces transformation now extends to 2044

Alongside the procurement plan, CSAT approved a program covering the transformation, development and equipment of the Romanian Armed Forces through 2044.

The longer-term program converts recommendations from Romania's 2025 Strategic Defense Review into military planning measures. The stated objective includes increasing the combat capacity of the force while providing sufficient funding for procurement, operations and combat training. 

That distinction is important. The 2027-2036 document establishes the medium-term equipment planning framework, while the 2044 program extends beyond individual procurement cycles into the future structure and capabilities of the Romanian military.

The combination gives Bucharest a framework for integrating acquisitions already underway with requirements that have yet to become individual procurement programs.

Romanian defense industry gains a larger role

CSAT also tied higher defense expenditure to the modernization of Romania's domestic defense industry.

Romanian authorities see increased expenditure as an opportunity to attract technology and industrial know-how through cooperation with established defense manufacturers. That approach is already visible in programs requiring local production or industrial participation, including the tracked infantry fighting vehicle acquisition. 

The council separately approved an analysis covering implementation of SAFE and procurement of specific capabilities under the European financing mechanism.

Romania's combination of a 2027-2036 procurement plan, the Armed Forces 2044 transformation program and SAFE-backed acquisitions creates a more structured long-term investment pipeline for one of NATO's key Black Sea members.

The next indicator will be which additional requirements from the 10-year plan move into funded acquisition programs. Those decisions will determine how the Romanian Armed Forces balance immediate requirements on NATO's eastern flank with the broader force structure envisioned for the 2030s and 2040s.

Romania military procurement plan: key questions

What did Romania approve for 2027-2036?

Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense approved a military procurement plan covering 2027-2036. The document connects Romanian Armed Forces equipment requirements with multiyear defense funding and provides for existing capabilities to be strengthened and new capabilities to be introduced. 

How much SAFE funding has Romania received?

Romania has been allocated €16.68 billion through the European Union's SAFE instrument. Of that amount, approximately €9.70 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of National Defense. 

What major Romanian military procurements are already underway?

Current SAFE-backed programs include 298 tracked infantry fighting vehicles and derivatives, Skynex counter-UAS and C-RAM systems, Skyranger 35 very-short-range air defense systems and Vector unmanned aircraft systems. 

How much does Romania plan to spend on defense?

Romania committed under NATO's 2025 Hague framework to reach defense-related expenditure equivalent to 5% of GDP by 2035, divided into 3.5% for core defense expenditure and 1.5% for related expenditure. 

Sources: Romanian Presidential Administration/CSAT, Romanian Ministry of National Defense, Government of Romania.