Romania and Ukraine advance joint drone production project

The ambitious project for joint drone production between Romania and Ukraine has entered a new phase, with 15 Ukrainian companies expressing their interest in participating. Radu Miruță, the interim Minister of Defense, emphasized the importance of starting production as soon as possible, with the project slated for completion by 2030.

To ensure a successful partnership, the Ministry of Defense is defining the operational requirements for the drones, while the Ministry of Economy is establishing the economic and localization criteria. Technical requirements detailing how the drones should operate have already been sent to the Prime Minister's Chancellery.

The collaboration involves crucial meetings between representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian drone manufacturers. Detailed technical sheets have been prepared for each company, outlining the types of drones that can be produced, their manufacturing capabilities, and potential for development. Romania has also created a hierarchy of preferences for the Ukrainian authorities, who will ultimately decide which firms will be included in the partnership for the future factory in Romania.

The project is backed by European funding through the SAFE program, as outlined in Ordinance no. 62. However, the development of a joint factory between a country at war and an EU member state necessitates navigating complex procedures. The factory is expected to be located on the territory of the Ministry of Defense.

Miruță noted that while the deadline for the project is set for 2030, Romanian authorities are keen on accelerating the project's timeline. Importantly, the true value of modern drones lies not only in the hardware but also in the software that coordinates them. The ability to customize the software is essential, as it will ensure that the system is tailored to the needs of the Romanian Army.

This project will integrate information from various sources, including radars, fighter jets, and air defense systems, while ensuring that critical data remains secure within the Romanian Army.