Romania and Ukraine have taken the first steps towards implementing a joint project for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles. This initiative was made possible by the recently signed Strategic Partnership between the countries and the implementation of the financial instrument “Security Actions for Europe” (SAFE).
This is reported by Finway
Key Details of the Cooperation
On March 31, a meeting took place at the headquarters of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense between Defense Minister Radu Mircea and the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine for European Integration, Serhiy Boyev. The parties discussed future cooperation in the defense industry, particularly direct partnership in the development and production of drones, as well as the possibility of transferring modern technologies.
The project is receiving funding of 200 million euros under the SAFE program. Special attention is being paid to forming a specialized team that will focus exclusively on this initiative. It is expected that the contract for joint production will be signed by the end of May.
“The project is receiving 200 million euros through the SAFE program for joint production, and we want the Ministry of Defense to be a central figure in this cooperation, not just a beneficiary. Therefore, we are currently discussing how to form a team that will work exclusively on this project, with the deadline for signing the contract being the end of May,” said Mircea.
Benefits for Both Countries and Next Steps
Romania will benefit from Ukrainian experience gained during combat operations, as well as from the establishment of infrastructure for producing cutting-edge technology. Ukraine, in turn, will gain additional resources for developing its defense industry thanks to SAFE funding and the involvement of the Romanian side in the production processes.
In the coming days, meetings will be held between specialists and representatives of industry companies from both countries. Specifically, 15 Ukrainian enterprises will present their portfolios and technical capabilities to deepen cooperation in defense technologies.
The Presidents of Ukraine and Romania, Volodymyr Zelensky and Nicușor Dan, previously agreed on the implementation of joint defense projects worth 200 million euros under the European SAFE program.
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