Romania is trying to modernize its Armed Forces. The process began more seriously only a few years ago, with the acquisition of Patriot systems, Piranha 5 armored vehicles, F-16 aircraft or ground systems of the HIMARS type. The Ministry of National Defense (MApN) is conducting a tender for the purchase of self-propelled howitzers, a process that is approaching the final stage. Those from Hanwha with K9 Thunder are the only ones left in the competition.
But this year MApN should also start an extremely important program for the Romanian Army, but especially the Romanian military: the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (MLI). The total value of the endowment program is estimated at 2.99 billion euros and involves equipping the Land Forces with 298 infantry fighting vehicles.
The current model in the Army’s equipment, “MLI-84 Jderul”, is long outdated, having a very low protection of the military.
European giant BAE, interested in Romania’s “Infantry Fighting Vehicle” program
So far, two companies have clearly announced their intention to participate in this program: the American giant General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) with the “ASCOD” vehicle and the Koreans from Hanwha Aerospace with the “Redback” MLI.
However, it would appear that a third defense industry giant is interested in Romania’s MLI program. It is about the European group BAE.
Various versions of the CV-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle / Source: BAE Systems
Information DefenseRomania: BAE Systems will announce its presence at BSDA 2024 these days. BAE wants to enter the CV90 in the competition aimed at the purchase of combat vehicles for the Romanian Army
According to information DefenseRomaniaBAE will announce next week its participation in BSDA Bucharest, the largest military exhibition in Eastern Europe, which will take place from May 22-24.
BAE will present in Romania at the BSDA exhibition a wider series of equipment, but the focus will be on the presentation of two armored vehicles – CV90 and AMPV (Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle) – which could be an option for the Romanian Army, in the “Infantry Fighting Vehicle” program.
The company will bring a CV-90 simulator to Bucharest, and visitors will be able to operate the vehicle through virtual reality.
BAE will also present in Bucharest a whole series of solutions for equipping the Army, known including from DefenseRomania’s materials covering the war in Ukraine: the L119 howitzer (105 mm), the M777 155 mm howitzer or the ultra-modern Archer self-propelled howitzer.
We remind you that, last year, BAE Systems signed an agreement with the Ukrainian authorities, by which it undertakes to produce some equipment in Ukraine.
Production in Romania, an essential condition to enter the competition
It must be said that, if it wants to enter the competition for the future Infantry Fighting Vehicle of the Romanian Army, the BAE company will have to agree to an important condition: to manufacture part of the equipment directly in Romania.
As declared by Major General Dr. Eng. Teodor Incicaș, head of the General Directorate for Armaments, the “Infantry Fighting Vehicle” program, like other programs run by the MApN, “will be conditioned by the integration and manufacturing in Romania” .
“We are following the involvement of the national defense industry. For us, it is key to have both the manufacturing capacity of some components, the maintenance capacity and, obviously, the manufacturing of related ammunition in the country. It’s a priority”, said the Romanian official, in the show “Euroatlantica”, produced by Radu Dobriţoiu on Radio Romania, on March 14.
The Redback proposed by Hanwha will be an extremely solid competitor in the program regarding the purchase of infantry fighting vehicles for the Romanian Army
Redback fighting machine. Photo: Hanwha Aerospace via Korean Blog @Facebook
What we do know at this point is that Hanwha is also very interested in the infantry fighting vehicle program. DefenseRomania spoke with Hanwha representatives during the visit our publication made to Korea to the production facilities of the Korean giant.
And Hanwha will enter the MLI procurement competition with the Redback, a state-of-the-art infantry fighting vehicle.
The Redback was developed for Australia’s Land 400 program, which it won, in cooperation with local industry.
What is produced, repaired in Romania
According to General Incicaș, maintenance of F-16 aircraft it is made in Romania, in Bacau.
Also, “at the system of mobile installations we will have some of the components manufactured here. We will create a production and maintenance capacity”.
Trucks and trailers. The multifunctional car transport platforms are manufactured and integrated, for the most part, in Romania. For the period 2018 – 2027, the acquisition of 3,385 transport platforms (2,902 trucks of various types and 363 trailers) is planned.
Drones. The operational Tactical UAS system is made with the condition of the manufacture in Romania of a part of the components and the integration in Romania.
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Tags: swords sharpened future combat vehicle Romanian Army CV90 confirms enters competition Redback announced presence
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