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Romania to Purchase Airbus Helicopters, Thales Radars in €1 Billion EU-Backed Deal
Romania has finalized a significant defense procurement from France, ordering 12 military helicopters from Airbus (AIR) and 12 air defense radars from Thales (TCFP). The deal, announced Sunday by France’s armed forces ministry, underscores a broader trend of European nations bolstering their military capabilities.
Deal Details and Financing
The total value of the purchases is reported to be just over €1 billion, according to Romanian media outlet Mediafax. The financing is structured through a loan from the European Union’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme.
According to the report, the breakdown of the deal is as follows:
- €852 million allocated for the 12 Airbus military helicopters.
- €258 million for the 12 Thales air defence radar systems.
AdThis procurement represents a substantial investment in modernizing Romania's military hardware and enhancing its air defense network.
Strategic Context and EU Defense Initiative
The purchase is being facilitated by the EU's SAFE programme, which was launched in May 2025 with a total funding facility of €150 billion ($171.50 billion). The initiative is designed to help member states strengthen their collective defense capabilities. Poland was the first country to utilize loans from the SAFE programme in May.
This move by Romania is part of a wider European response to the altered security landscape following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Governments across the continent are increasing defense spending and collaborating on procurement, a trend that directly benefits major European defense contractors like Airbus and Thales by providing a steady pipeline of large-scale orders.
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