In order to develop the defense industry in the medium and long term, we must invest in dual-use technology, invest in military drones, develop them technologically, but also be able to use them for agriculture or other related fields, proposed Răzvan Marian Pîrcălăbescu, general manager of Compania Națională ROMARM S.A., at a specialist event on Wednesday.
‘The defense industry has a great opportunity today. In order to develop the defense industry in the medium and long term, we must invest in dual-use military drones, which we will develop technologically with artificial intelligence, but we will also be able to use the same equipment for agriculture, for example, or other related fields,” said Pîrcălăbescu.
According to him, the European Union’s ‘Action for Security in Europe’ (SAFE) instrument represents an opportunity for ROMARM.
‘We are currently the largest company in the Romanian defense industry. We have 15 factories, producing everything from small-caliber ammunition to combat vehicles, tanks, and drones. We have a unique opportunity through SAFE. But we must be realistic that SAFE is a long-term loan that can help revitalize the national defense industry and that we will repay in 40 years with very good interest. We will have new technology and very good know-how, but as an industry, we must also pay attention to the industrial cooperation law. Over time, the country’s law enforcement agencies have made certain purchases from various partners who, according to the industrial cooperation law amended in 2023, are required to manufacture between 20-100% of their products in Romania,” the Romarm director pointed out.
The first edition of the MAKE it in ROMANIA international conference, an event dedicated to strengthening the national defense industry, was organized on Wednesday in Bucharest by TNT Productions Romania, with the support of Hanwha Aerospace, ROMARM, Tehnonav, and Poșta Română, under the auspices of Black Sea Defense & Aerospace (BSDA), the largest defense and security expo-conference in Southeast Europe.
The event brings together over 700 participants from 23 countries, representatives of the Romanian Government, European financial institutions, local authorities, along with international and local companies from the defense industry and complementary sectors.
The conference addresses the entire process of developing the capabilities of the national defense industry, from identifying operational needs and accessing financing mechanisms to establishing partnerships and integrating civil industries into dual-use production.
In 2026, BSDA will reach its tenth edition, which will take place between May 13 and 15, at Romaero, Bucharest. Over its two decades of existence, BSDA has become the main meeting point for the largest companies in the global defense industry, military equipment manufacturers, advanced solution providers, and representatives of institutions in the national defense, public order, and security system.
The 2024 edition brought together more than 30,000 visitors from 54 countries and over 400 exhibitors from 32 countries, including five of the largest companies in the global defense industry: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, and L3Harris.
