PHOTO What does the first armored vehicle manufactured 100% in Romania look like, to NATO standards for ballistic protection
The event to present the VLAH prototype – the Hidramat Autonomous Fighting Vehicle, the first Romanian 4×4 armored vehicle, developed within a public-private partnership between BlueSpace Technology and Uzina Automecanică Moreni, a subsidiary of ROMARM National Company. PHOTO: Agerpres
The BlueSpace Technology company presented the VLAH prototype on Friday, the first fully manufactured armored vehicle in our country. The first car destined for series production is likely to be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
“The way in which the public opinion reacted to the VLAH, the first armored car manufactured in Romania, demonstrates how great the need is for such a modular platform that offers the Romanian defense industry flexibility, quick maintenance and reasonable costs,” said Constantin Pintilie, CEO of BlueSpace Technology, at the launch event organized in Moreni, reports Agerpres.
What is VLAH?
According to a press release sent by the company, VLAH – Hidramat Autonomous Combat Vehicle, is a modular platform, with a total weight of 10 tons, autonomy of up to 600 kilometers that can reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h.
The cabin provides protection for a crew of 5, and the armor meets NATO standards for ballistic and anti-mine protection.
The car is currently in full configuration, marking the project's official entry into the systems configuration, testing and homologation stage.
“'Because it is also possible in Romania' should become the registered trademark of our country. We need to lift the wave from the eyes of the decision-makers and show the real capacity of Romanian engineering and innovation. From the beginning we believed in this project. It depends on us what future VLAH will have”, stated the Secretary General of the Government, Ștefan-Radu Oprea.
Also, during the event, a discussion panel entitled “Strategic innovation in defense – Because it is also possible in Romania” was held, where the prospects and challenges of strategic innovation in the Romanian defense industry were discussed, together with leaders and experts in the field of defense and research.
“A country project”, states the mayor of Moreni
“If we continue to ask for similar experience in defense procurement, no Romanian company will have a real chance. We have to support ourselves, through ourselves,” said former Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and former Minister of National Defense, present at the event.
Also, the mayor of Moreni Municipality, Gabriel Purcaru, stated that all the decision-makers “must put their shoulders” in order for this project to go forward. “VLAH is not a city project, it's a country project. We consider ourselves lucky that VLAH is in our backyard – it's a chance for Moreni to get on the EU and NATO map”, claimed Gabriel Purcaru.
Regarding the next steps after the launch of the prototype, the CEO of BlueSpace Technology emphasized that the Zero VLAH Series will be followed in which all the changes deemed necessary and encountered during the realization of the prototype will be implemented.
“At the end of the first quarter of 2026, we estimate that we will have a car ready for series production. The next objective will be the industrialization of the production line to produce 200 cars per year in the country, at Moreni”, said Constantin Pintilie.
More than 200 high-ranking representatives of the Romanian state institutions, officials of the central and local authorities, specialists and experts from the national and international defense industry took part today in the official event for the presentation of the VLAH prototype, an event during which the BlueSpace Technology team started the engine of the first armored vehicle manufactured 100% in Romania.
