The army takes the first concrete step to buy war vessels through the European Corveta Multirol project

The Romanian naval forces intend to buy no less than four fighting corvettes through a developed program at European level. The first ship should be ready in 2030, according to the Navy plans, and the first official step of Romania was made on Wednesday

Romania signed a cooperation agreement with OCCAR on Wednesday, the MAPN announces

The Minister of Defense Ionuț Moșteanu signed with Joachim Sucker, the director of the Organization for Common Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), the framework agreement between the Government of Romania and OCCAR, “an important step in strengthening Romania's participation in the European defense programs”, the ministry reports.

The agreement allows the Romanian defense industry to participate directly in the OCCAR programs regarding the development, acquisition and maintenance of modern military equipment, thus contributing to the modernization of the armed forces. Through this partnership, Romania will benefit from more efficient, transparent and less expensive procedures for defense purchases.

“The signing of this agreement is a major step for the modernization of the army, for the deeper integration in the European defense system and to support the national profile industry. It gives us access to the latest technologies and strengthen cooperation with European partners,” said Minister Ionuț Moșteanu.

The most important OCCAR program in which Romania aims to participate is that of the European Corvette Multirol.

Romania wants four new corvettes

In an exclusive interview for HotNews in July, the head of the Naval Forces, Vice-Adamaral Mihai Panait said that the endowment plan at the Black Sea provides for four corvettes of the European Corveta Multirol project.

“Of the four corvettes (European no) that we want, the first ship will enter the Romanian Naval Forces in 2030 and, every year, the following until 2035. This year we should sign an agreement with the Occar. After signing this agreement, 2026 will probably be the year when we sign the contract. Probably 2030 will come the first platform, and then follow, for the integration of the Armament,” Panait.

The project of the European Corvette Multirol is a cooperation between several European countries and naval sites and involves the design and construction of a series of modular ships, multi-situation, the size of some corvettes, with a displacement of about 3,000 tonnes and length below 110 meters.

The states involved in the project include Italy (coordinator), France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Portugal or Croatia, and the big naval sites trapped so far in the program (Joint Venture between Italy and Naval Group in France), Fincantieri (Italy), Naval Group (France) and Navantia (Spain).

However, the list of large sites is missing from the big sites, which in Romania produces military ships in Galați. However, Fincantieri is present in Romania with naval sites in Brăila and Tulcea.

Photo source: The concept of a European Corvette Multirol / Source: Thomasmilani86-Own Work, CC by-SA 4.0