Romania awards Turkish defense firm Baykar $321 million contract for TB2 drones

The contract is for the delivery of six aerial platforms with target engagement capabilities per system, totaling 18 drones.

“Romania, which has strong bonds with Türkiye based on long years of friendship and mutual trust, has joined the countries that have the high-tech Bayraktar TB2 UAV in their inventory. We have signed export contracts for Bayraktar TB2 UAV with 28 countries so far,” Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar wrote on Twitter.

Uzun yılları aşan dostluğumuz ve karşılıklı güvene dayalı güçlü bağlarımız bulunan Romanya, yüksek teknolojiye sahip #BayraktarTB2 SİHA'yı envanterine alan ülkeler arasına katıldı. #BayraktarTB2 SİHA için şimdiye kadar 28 ülke ile ihracat sözleşmesi imzaladık. @BaykarTech olarak… https://t.co/kOMPpjptzz
— Haluk Bayraktar (@haluk) April 25, 2023

The drones are intended for the Romanian Land Forces and will be delivered to Timisoara.

This acquisition is part of Romania's ambition to transform its army by providing new military equipment and weapon systems to increase flexibility, situational awareness, and firepower.

Romania plans to increase its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP in 2023 and is also considering purchasing F-35s to modernize its air force.

This makes Romania the second EU country and third European NATO member to operate TB2s beyond Türkiye. (ILKHA)