Romania's Defense Ministry announced Monday that Israeli defense contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems secured victory in a parliamentary-approved tender for short-range anti-aircraft missile systems. While parliament has approved the contract, the defense ministry has yet to publish details, keeping the specific system's identity undisclosed.
Defense analysts estimated that the selected platform is Rafael's SPYDER air defense system, which has gained adoption across multiple European nations. This truck-mounted system features launchers for Python-5 missiles equipped with radar and active infrared homing technology, providing effectiveness against diverse aerial threats, including unmanned aircraft, helicopters, and various fighter aircraft.
The SPYDER configuration comprises a launch vehicle, a command and control unit, and a support vehicle that resupplies missiles to the launcher. The system demonstrated operational effectiveness during Israel's Iron Swords conflict on the northern front.
Romania's latest defense procurement follows approximately one month after its decision to acquire 41 Iron Dome launchers. Similar to the current announcement, that contract also remains unpublished, leaving unclear the precise configuration of Romania's Iron Dome acquisition.
