The Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) approved on Thursday the 2024 – 2033 Romanian Army Equipment Plan, re-examining the programs in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Presidential Administration informed, write Agerpres.

„The major change in the regional security situation generated by the Russian Federation’s aggressive stance determined the re-examination, reprioritization and reconfiguration of equipment procurement programs for the development of the military capabilities required for countering the new threats, including by stepping up the purchase of the necessary war ammunition, and for gradually building up stocks,” the Presidential Administration specified. Thus, as budget allocations for Defense are maintained at 2.5 percent of GDP, the Romanian Army will focus its strategic efforts on strengthening the defense capacity at national level and in an allied format „in order to effectively deter and combat all types of classic, asymmetric, hybrid or other threats.”

„This will be achieved by equipping the force structure with high-performance military technology and equipment, compatible and interoperable with those of the forces of the other NATO and EU member states, so as to ensure both the fulfillment of deterrence and defense missions, as well as their long-term viability through the level of efficiency and technological development,” the release goes on to read.

At the same time, in order to protect the essential security interests and ensure supply security, CSAT is directly interested in Romania „having on its national territory industrial facilities capable of ensuring both the production of modern military hardware for the peacetime equipment of its forces and of maintaining the purchased equipment in operational condition, as well as the manufacture or development of new equipment that will contribute to the multiplication of military capabilities in crisis or war situations.”