News Feed

Romania to develop joint drone production with Ukraine to protect NATO's eastern flank, Romanian FM says

2 min read
Romania to develop joint drone production with Ukraine to protect NATO's eastern flank, Romanian FM says
Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania attends the Ukraine-Romania-Moldova trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Moldova foreign ministers, Andrii Sybiha and Mihai Popșoi (not pictured) on August 8, 2025 in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. (Eduard Kryzhanivskyi/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu confirmed on Sept. 30 Bucharest's plans to partner with Ukraine to produce drones intended to protect NATO airspace.

"We believe it is strategic for (NATO's) eastern flank to be better protected, especially in air defence. So what we are doing in that direction is to create the partnerships needed, for example, with Ukraine to build defensive drones for the future," Toiu told Reuters in an interview.

The plans come as Russian drones have repeatedly violated Romania's airspace. The country, which shares a 650-kilometer (400-mile) border with Ukraine, has documented more than 20 incidents of drones crossing into its territory or debris falling on its soil.

"We believe in our capacity to make it a reality fast," Toiu added.

Reuters reported on Sept. 26 that Bucharest is in talks with Ukraine to jointly produce drones, under a European Union-funded defense initiative, drawing on Kyiv's "battle-tested" technology.

Through the scheme, Romania will receive 16.6 billion euros ($19.4 billion) under the EU's SAFE rearmament program, funding that Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said would cover annual military purchases equal to about 1% of the country's GDP over the next five years.

Tensions along NATO's eastern flank have escalated in recent weeks. Estonia accused Russia of violating its airspace with three fighter jets,  NATO jets shot down Russian drones over Poland, and multiple EU countries have seen an increase in unidentified drones flying over critical infrastructure and airports.

Romania's current defenses include U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, Patriot air defense systems, Lockheed Martin's HIMARS rocket launchers, South Korean Chiron short-range missiles, and German Gepard anti-aircraft guns.

Ukraine itself has rapidly scaled up production, with Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announcing on Sept. 18 that the country will soon be able to deploy at least 1,000 interceptor drones per day to repel Russian attacks.

In addition to the planned European cooperation, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 27 that Kyiv is planning both a $90 billion "Mega Deal" — a major agreement on the purchase of American weapons — and a "Drone Deal," to sell Ukrainian unmanned systems to the U.S.

SBU records nearly 50,000 Shahed drone launches against Ukraine since 2022
Russia has often used Shahed drones against non-military targets, destroying or damaging residential buildings and other civilian facilities protected under international humanitarian law.
Article image



Avatar
Dmytro Basmat

Senior News Editor

Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Read more
News Feed
Show More