Romania has entered into a significant agreement with Raytheon, securing a contract valued at $168 million for the acquisition of components related to the Patriot air and missile defense system. This contract encompasses a range of essential components including radar systems, command and control infrastructures, launchers, test equipment, and necessary support services, reflecting Romania’s commitment to enhancing its national defense capabilities.
This latest contract marks Romania’s second procurement of Patriot systems from Raytheon within the current year, following an earlier agreement in April that included a similar assortment of defense technologies aimed at bolstering the nation’s multi-layered defense strategy.
Currently, Romania is engaged in a larger procurement effort encompassing a total of seven Patriot systems, with the first deliveries initiated in 2020 and expected to be fully completed by 2030. Notably, Romania received four of these systems in 2023, which included a military aid component specifically intended to bolster Ukraine’s military operations amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Pete Bata, Senior Vice President of Raytheon Global Patriot, emphasized the effectiveness of the Patriot system, declaring, “Patriot remains the air and missile defense system of choice worldwide.” He further expressed Raytheon’s commitment to delivering proven, combat-ready capabilities designed to enhance collective security across Europe.
The Patriot defense system itself is recognized as a mobile surface-to-air and anti-ballistic missile defense platform. It integrates state-of-the-art radars, an antenna mast group, a control station, and launchers, enabling it to intercept aerial threats at altitudes reaching 36,000 meters (approximately 118,110 feet) and speeds of up to 6,170 kilometers per hour (around 3,834 miles per hour), with an operational range extending up to 160 kilometers (about 99 miles).
Since its inception in the 1980s, the Patriot system has undergone extensive upgrades to meet evolving threats, with more than 1,100 systems produced to date. It is currently deployed in 19 nations, including the United States, where it originated. In recent years, Raytheon has continued to expand its international client base, securing new contracts for the Patriot system from several countries, including Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands in 2025.
