The first American-made Patriot PAC-3 air defense missile system could be delivered to Romania by end of the year. In October of this year, the Company Aerostar SA from Romania on behalf of Romania’s economy ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US Company Raytheon regarding the acquisition of the first Patriot missile system.



A Patriot missile launcher system part of 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, sits in a training area during the unit’s table gunnery training exercise on Kadena Air Base in Japan, Oct. 19, 2017. (Source image U.S. MoD)

In July 2017, the U.S. State Department announced t the approval for a possible $3.9 billion sale to NATO member Romania for Patriot air and missile defense systems.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency had notified U.S. Congress of the foreign military sale for seven Raytheon-made Patriot systems, including 28 launching stations, 56 guidance enhanced missiles and 168 Patriot Advanced Capabilty-3 (PAC-3) missiles.

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.

According to the Romania's defence minister, Mihai Fifor, 700 million US dollars would be spent this year for the acquisition of Patriot missiles systems.

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air defense missile system, used by the United States Army and 13 other countries. Since it was first fielded, Patriot has been used by five nations in more than 200 combat engagements against manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.

The PAC-3 is the latest generation of missile system in the Patriot family with an increased effectiveness against tactical ballistic and cruise missiles, through the use of advanced hit-to-kill technology.