The Senate, acting as decision-making body, adopted on Wednesday by 76 ayes the bill on the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft, and which had cleared the Chamber of Deputies the day before.

The piece of legislation is related to the Concept for achieving the operational air defense capability with 5th-generation multi-role aircraft, as part of the „5th Generation Multi-role Aircraft, F-35” equipment program, Phase I, and to specific measures regarding the unfolding of government-to-government contracts specific to the Foreign Military Sales Program.

According to the said regulatory act, the Government of Romania awards the Government of the United States of America the ‘Offer and Acceptance’ contracts for the purchase of 32 F-35 aircraft, engines, munitions, initial logistics support, permanent access to the F-35 global support chain, equipment and aircrew training services, support staff and aviation technical staff, special regime cryptographic equipment, specialized assistance, as well as the realization of industrial cooperation projects consisting in the transfer of technology or products.

The necessary funds shall be provided from the state budget, through the budget of the National Defense Ministry, through loans or loan guarantees offered by the U.S. Government, or through a combination of these options. Also, it proposes that the National Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism conclude agreements with the manufacturer of the F-35 aircraft for industrial cooperation projects.

AGERPRES