Page 27 - Revista de industrie mai 2019

The Ministry of National Defense is trying out the market for a a future purchase of new military helicopters
aerospace & defence
For the third consecutive year Romania has a a a a a a a budget of of 2% of of GDP allocated allocated to to to the the Defense sector the the substantial amounts allocated allocated to to to this area allowing for a a a a a a a a a a a comprehensive modernization program of the military equipment involving all weapons In this context the Ministry of Defense (MApN) has also taken steps toward equipping the army with new helicopters
In principle according
to available information 24 attack helicopters
and 21 multi-purpose machines are considered According to to Defense Minister Gabriel Leș letters have been sent to to the world’s leading manufacturers in in order to draw up a a a a a a a concept note but no no procurement program has yet been launched „Some references have been asked from several manufacturers whether
we are talking about about Airbus Sikorsky Boeing about about four or or five helicopter manufacturers so that that we can figure out now that that there is on on the the market in order to to be able to to draw up a a a a a a concept note for what helicopter equipment means ( ) The capability that we currently have for helicopters
will end in in the the coming years and this program is is is very important for for the the the Romanian air forces ”
the the minister said recently According to military sources Airbus will propose MApN a a a a light attack helicopter the H145M Bell will come with Viper machines which are currently used by the the US marines Sikorsky another American manufacturer proposes the the multi- purpose Black Hawk and Boeing comes with the AH-64 Apache an an attack helicopter The European manufacturer Airbus opened a a a a a a a a production line several years ago in in Brașov where
a a a a a a a multi-purpose helicopter could
be manufactured the H215 The American company Bell also also announced that they could
also also produce the the the helicopters
at at Ghimbav In turn Sikorsky another US producer promised to establish at at Romaero a a a a a a a a a a repair and modernization center for for all all Black Hawk devices
for for Europe However despite all all the the discussions held in in the the recent years nothing has has yet been accomplished and and the the army has has to to continue to to use the the old IAR 330 Puma and and its upgraded SOCAT version Photo IAR Brașov