Romania has signed a contract worth more than €2bn for the acquisition of its first SHORAD (short-range air defence) and VSHORAD (very short-range air defence) systems, Minister of National Defence Radu Miruţă announced on June 25, according to a ministry statement. 

The acquisition is part of Romania's broader military modernisation programme and efforts to strengthen Nato's eastern flank. The procurement process, which took four years to complete, is intended to strengthen Romania's protection against low-altitude aerial threats, including drones, missiles and aircraft.

The framework agreement was signed by the Ministry of National Defence's state-owned procurement company Romtehnica with Israeli defence contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

Under the contract, Romania will acquire six integrated SHORAD-VSHORAD systems, including six SHORAD systems and six VSHORAD systems, together with ammunition, a training and education system, a simulation platform for testing and evaluating VSHORAD operators, as well as logistical support.

Miruţă described the SHORAD-VSHORAD capability as a proximity air defence "shield" designed to detect and destroy aerial threats before they reach protected targets.

"This system is the last layer of protection that stops an air threat before it causes damage," the minister said.

He added that the systems are designed to intercept not only aircraft and helicopters but also drones, loitering munitions, small missiles and other low-flying targets that are more difficult for longer-range air defence systems to engage.