X-ray of a failure in endowment. General Virgil Bălăceanu explains why we missed securing the Danube in the face of drones
Contracts worth hundreds of millions with foreign companies that do not deliver on time and Romanian companies ignored by the authorities. General Virgil Bălăceanu reveals why Romania missed the 2025 deadline for securing the Danube and who is to blame for the radars “blinded” by drones.
Romania needs Spyder systems for air defense. PHOTO: Defense military
Every time a drone falls in Romania, the authorities are reminded that there is a war just two steps away, on the border. Then, the wave of oblivion subsides, and the interest shifts again to internal politics, the only one that really matters in Romania. It is no coincidence that the Romanian authorities sometimes show superficiality regarding the equipment programs of the Romanian Army.
Meanwhile, Russian drones are falling like ripe apples on Romanian territory, and solutions are delayed. A Russian drone fell on Friday, May 29, on a block of flats in Galati and only a miracle meant that there were no victims.
Why don't we have an effective anti-drone system
Reserve General Virgil Bălăceanu represented Romania at the NATO Command in Brussels and was head of the Multinational Brigade in South-East Europe. He criticizes the fact that Romanian companies in the defense industry are ignored, and the best contracts are given to foreign companies, some of which delay deliveries.
An example is the contract with Rheinmetall, worth 328 million euros, for the Skynex-type modernization of four anti-aircraft systems. Although at least two of the four should have been delivered by now, this has not happened. Obviously, this did not bother the Romanian authorities, who meanwhile signed other contracts with the German colossus, entrusting Rheinmetall with billions of euros in total.
“In 2023, Romania contracted with Rheinmetall for 328 million euros for the Skynex-type modernization of four systems, I understand four batteries, a 35 mm helipad, guns that are in the Romanian Army's equipment. And it was said that, based on this contract, the first two systems will be delivered after 2 years, that meant 2025, last year, the other two after 3 years, so 2026”says the general, in an analysis for “The Truth”.
Skynex upgrade delays
The modernization should have brought new capabilities to the army, which would also have helped to shoot down the Russian drones that are causing so many problems in Romania. Without these, but also without other anti-aircraft systems that the authorities were in no hurry to acquire, although 4 years have passed since the start of the war provoked by Russia on the border of Romania, in Ukraine, by invading this country.
“Upgrading them means increasing the capabilities of hitting 2×35 millimeter guns, a helicopter, targets in the category of drones, in the category, it is said, including cruise missiles, in the category of C-RAM itself, which is counter rocket, artillery and mortars, that is, to be able to hit with the Skynex system, including launcher bombs, including artillery projectiles, including Katiusha-type missiles. So we should have had at least two batteries modernized, which we could have used in anti-drone defense on the Danube“, claims the general.
Further, in the legacy programs, there are programs related to Skynex, seven systems, Skyranger, two systems, and Millennium, two systems, all three of which can be used successfully in combating drones.
“We don't know when they will be equipped, if the contracts are signed, because so far only four contracts have been signed for the other systems and munitions dedicated to the fight against drones, including the fight against drones. That is, we are talking about the three systems, Skynex, Skyranger, Millennium, we are talking about Gap Filler radars and we are talking about the 35 mm ammunition that is used by all three systems for anti-aircraft combat, but above all, it is our area of interest, the anti-drone fight”explains General Bălăceanu.
Romanian companies are ignored
At the same time, the authorities received offers from some Romanian companies for anti-drone systems, but either they did not even take them into account, or they responded very late.
However, there are some exceptions to the rule. One of these offers was made by the Romanian company Blue Space Technology, Silenta and Noctua systems. Silenta is dedicated to drone detection and tracking, and Noctua to electronic drone jamming.
The information appeared on the sources that they were finally acquired, and the mentioned company is one of the most serious private Romanian companies active in the defense industry.
In fact, Blue Space Technology is one of the Romanian companies that have proven their seriousness. This company manufactures for the Romanian army not only the TEMPEST-type protection against obtaining electronic information, securing buildings, securing rooms, but also produces these systems for detecting and monitoring drones in electronic jamming. Blue Space Technology has also created a multimodular platform that can be used for several equipment systems, it is called VLAH, it has been made together with Uzina Mecanică Moreni.
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In the same landscape there are other serious Romanian companies, including Autonomous Flight Technology, AFT. They have great achievements investing a lot in research and development.
The problem is that most of the time Romanian companies are postponed or ignored, and the contracts go to international companies, in many cases without a tender.
“Unfortunately, Romanian companies, especially those producing drones, were not targeted at all by the outdated program. From the beginning we take reconnaissance drones from Germany that are necessary, but not for the moment, and these drones are assembled in Romania. We will take from WB Electronics, from the Poles, drones of the loitering ammunition type, i.e. kamikaze drones, which we bring purchased entirely from the Poles. Given that we have companies that produce and have technological developments in the field. Here, we had an example that we can take up, the command and control software produced in Romania, which, probably being the plan to purchase another software, will be removed from the equipment of the Romanian Army. We are talking about Romanian private companies that invest in the development of drones and anti-drone systems, but we do not encourage them because they were not the subject of SAFE“, claims the general.
The lack of involvement of the authorities in such cases leads to the ruin of what is left of the Romanian defense industry, warns General Virgil Bălăceanu.
“If these companies do not enjoy contracts, primarily from Romania, they will not survive over time, because everyone invests until a certain point. If the respective product is not purchased, the company will not be successful”says the general.
Lagging military capabilities
However, the Skynex case is not unique. Romania was supposed to receive seven Watchkeeper X unmanned aircraft systems as early as June 2025, but Elbit Systems Limited has not delivered them even today. Such a system consists of a command center, telecommunications systems and three drones each, according to the contract. Moreover, they would have been partially assembled in Romania. However, until today they have not reached the possession of the Romanian Army. The systems would have been useful in situations like the one in Galați.
Minister Radu Miruță admitted, in response to a parliamentary question, that Elbit Systems benefited from two extensions for the delivery term, but even so the company did not honor its contract. The minister's reaction was a late one, and the threats of penalties after several months did not work in this case even after Miruță threatened that this contract could be terminated.
The Romanian authorities are moving to restart
Also, although Romania signed a contract with the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems since last year, for integrated SHORAD-VSHORAD systems, so far not even the first subsequent contract has been signed. In this case, the Israeli company has no fault.
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“The object of the Framework Agreement signed in July 2025 involves the acquisition of several VSHORAD and SHORAD weapon systems, integrated SHORAD-VSHORAD systems, training and training programs for the personnel responsible for operating the systems, as well as a simulation system for the verification and evaluation of VSHORAD operators”, MApN representatives mentioned in an answer for “Adevărul”. In the same answer, it was also stated that “Until this date, the first subsequent contract has not been signed”.
A special case was that of the MEROPS system. According to the publication Monitorul Aparării, a MEROPS system donated by the Americans since last year has not been integrated into the Romanian anti-aircraft defense even today. This despite the fact that last month he was presented to journalists, in Capu Midia, in a PR action in which Minister Miruță took part.
What happened in Galați
A drone crashed on Friday night on a block of flats in Galati, the incident being followed by an explosion and fire at an apartment located on the 10th floor of the building. A RO-Alert message was issued for Brăila, Tulcea and Galați.
Later, the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, announced that he would convene the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT).
“We have convened a meeting of the Supreme Council of Defense of the Country today at 11 o'clock to discuss the implications of the most serious incident affecting the national territory since the beginning of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine. We will order the proportional measures in relation to the Russian Federation.
My thoughts go out first and foremost to the injured, their families and the tenants who experienced horrific moments in their own homes. I thank them for the calmness with which they responded to this situation and I assure them of the full support of the Romanian state“, the head of state said.
