Romania's Border Police Plans Counter-Drone Purchases Amid €200M Investment Program

Romania's Border Police is prioritizing counter-drone systems, expanded aerial surveillance and new patrol vessels as part of a broader investment program estimated at approximately €200 million in 2026.

Cornel Laurian Stoica, Inspector General of the Romanian Border Police, outlined the investment priorities in an interview with Aleph News and Monitorul Apărării și Securității, reported on October 31.

The program is financed through national and European funding sources and reflects growing security requirements along Romania's borders with Ukraine and Moldova and in the Black Sea.

The €200 million figure covers the institution's wider investment activities and should not be interpreted as a dedicated counter-drone procurement budget.

Counter-Drone Systems Become a Procurement Priority

The Romanian Border Police is seeking additional capabilities to identify and respond to unmanned aircraft operating near national borders.

According to Stoica, procurement priorities include counter-drone equipment, expansion of the institution's own drone fleet and modernization of maritime intervention capabilities.

The changes reflect a security environment increasingly shaped by the war in neighboring Ukraine.

While border authorities continue to address migration, smuggling and other cross-border crimes, they must also respond to aerial drones, unmanned maritime systems and naval mines.

Stoica said the institution maintains continuous information exchanges and coordinates response procedures with other Romanian security agencies.

When drone debris or potentially dangerous objects are discovered, border police units are responsible for securing the area before specialized personnel take over.

No specific counter-UAS manufacturer, contract value or delivery timetable was identified in the latest interview.

Eight Patrol Vessels Proposed Through EU SAFE

Maritime modernization represents another important element of Romania's investment plans.

Through the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) framework, the Border Police has proposed acquiring five fast patrol vessels and another three vessels intended for operations in the Danube Delta.

The proposed eight-vessel package would strengthen surveillance and response capabilities in waterways facing increasingly complex security challenges.

According to Stoica, some contracts involving maritime equipment have already been signed, while other procurement activities remain at different stages of the contracting process.

The institution has not disclosed a confirmed overall price, selected suppliers or delivery schedule for the proposed eight-vessel SAFE package.

The Black Sea has become an increasingly demanding operating environment for Romanian authorities, with incidents involving drifting mines, unmanned maritime vehicles and damaged commercial vessels.

More Than 40 Surveillance Cameras Upgraded

Romania has also modernized more than 40 surveillance cameras along its borders with Ukraine and Moldova.

Some of these systems incorporate artificial intelligence-supported capabilities intended to improve threat identification and the prioritization of border patrol responses.

The investments reflect a broader transition toward technology-supported border security, combining fixed sensors, aerial surveillance, maritime assets and information-sharing networks.

Romania is also strengthening military counter-drone capabilities through separate programs.

As AdriaDefense reported earlier in October, the Romanian military has been preparing to expand its low-altitude surveillance network and integrate additional counter-UAS assets.

These military programs are distinct from the Border Police procurement activities described by Stoica.

For technology suppliers, the Border Police modernization agenda could create opportunities involving counter-UAS equipment, surveillance sensors, maritime platforms, communications systems and systems integration.

However, the latest interview does not establish that new tenders have been launched for all the proposed capabilities.

The next milestones will be the publication of procurement documentation, supplier selections and delivery schedules for the planned equipment.