Romania participates in EU defence projects
The European Union has approved five major common defence projects at continental level
Ştefan Stoica, 29.09.2026, 14:00
The European Union’s Council has approved the first five European projects of common interest in the field of defence. They are now eligible for EU funding and are focusing on defensive measures in space, on air and at sea, including against drones.
According to the Council, the common interest defence projects are allowing the European countries to work together within major defence initiatives, which would be too big and complex to be developed by only one member state.
Romania participates in all five projects. One of these, which is entitled DECODER is aimed at the joint production and purchase of drones and anti-drone systems, which involves the development and enlargement of Europe’s industrial capabilities. A second project is the European integrated anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence, which focuses on connecting the national systems of sensors, interceptors, command and control. In the same field there is also the Eastern Flank Watch, or Eastern Sentinel, which combines anti-aircraft and anti-drone defence with systems of surveillance, military mobility and ground capabilities.
A fourth project has been designed for the maritime field, where Romania participates in the development of several maritime surveillance systems and for the protection of undersea infrastructure, including cables and pipelines.
And the last project, which is simply called SPACE, is targeting satellite surveillance and recon operations, including preemptive warning and navigation.
The European Union has earmarked 325 million Euros from its Programme for the European Defence Industry and for the launch and implementation of these projects.
However, the total envisaged investment runs higher, from 3.5 to 5 billion Euros for drones or of up to 100 billion Euros for Eastern Flank Watch, depending on the project and period of implementation.
On that same note, Washington and Bucharest have marked the delivery of the first nine assault amphibious vehicles (AAV) to Romania. This is ‘a major milestone in US – Romanian defence cooperation and bolstering NATO security on the Black Sea coast and along the eastern flank of the alliance,’ the US embassy in Bucharest also says.
According to the same sources, ‘the arrival of the AAVs, military vehicles designed to carry troops and equipment directly from naval ships during amphibious combat in Tulcea County initiates specialized technical training to bring the new capability into active service. Designed for demanding terrain and complex missions, the AAVs provide critical mobility and adaptability particularly well suited for operations in the Danube Delta and the Black Sea coast.
“Deterrence is built on capability, but Alliance is built on trust. Today, the United States and Romania demonstrate both,” the US Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg said during the official handover ceremony.
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