Romania
Armed Forces
As noted in the Structural Organisation Section of Project Force-2005 of the Romanian Military Strategy, the Romanian Armed Forces (RAFs) functionally include Operational, Territorial and Reserve forces.
Operational Forces
They consist of various Land Forces, Air Force and Navy formations and units, fully manned, equipped and trained. In times of war and crises they should be subordinated to the respective operational commands, with their main goal being the setting up of units to be dispatched not only on Romanian territory, but also abroad as part of multinational military efforts.
Territorial Forces
They are aimed at conducting territorial defence, training and mobilisation, as well as at supporting local authorities in civil emergencies. In crisis situations they may take part in active military action subordinated to the Joint Task Force Headquarters.
Structurally, the Romanian Armed Forces consist of Land Forces, Air Force, and Navy. For conducting special missions, both at the central and at each armed forces branch, Special Forces are established.
There were several developments in the Romanian military of particular significance, which marked the period 2004-2005, among those the Romanian accession to NATO in March of 2004, the deepening of the reform and modernisation of the Romanian Armed Forces (RAFs), which resulted in various major armaments and equipment acquisitions, and the signing on December 6th 2005 of the US-Romanian Agreement of Access regulating the regime of deployment and use of US military facilities on Romanian territory. Further, the RAFs contunied their participation in peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
A key element in the modernisation of the RAFs is their professionalisation. In compliace with that prerogative, the Romanian Navy was completely professionalised by the end of the year 2004. Additionally, a Law on the Suspension of Compulsory Military Service was adopted. Staring from January 1st, 2007, the compulsory military service within the RAFs will be suspended.
After becoming a full-fledged NATO member, Romania dedicated itself to a series of modernisation projects of the RAFs to ensure their NATO compatibility.
Land Forces
As priorities for the development of the Romanian Land Forces (RLFs) were defined enhancing of deployment capabilities, and the operational compatibility, control and communications, as well as improving the tactical reconnaissance and the forces protection. An upgrade of various types of armoured vehicles was conducted, among those the TR 85 M1 MBTs and MLI-84 AIFV, which are to be used for carrying out NATO related tasks. The MLRS and the air defence systems were also upgraded.The RLFs have at their disposal Shadow-600 UAV.
A new acquisition, though a rather controversial indeed, was of the second-hand Hawk PIP III air missile system for a total of EUR 23.5 mln. under an agreement with the government of the Netherlands concluded in 2004. The acquisition stirred the waters in Romania after information of high radiation emitted by the missiles leaked in the public domain. Despite the public uproar, the system entered in service in the RAFs in 2005.
Air Force
To ensure full NATO compatibility, the Romanian Air Force (RAF) promoted programmes related to fulfilling Romania's air policing tasks and improving the fleet.
An upgrade of the MiG-21 fighters and the IAR-330 RUMA helicopters was conducted. The RAF also has in service a C130 Hercules military transport aircraft.
Additionally, the National Romanian Air Sovereignty Operation Centre (ASOC) has at its disposal an FPS-117 3-D and a GAP-FILLER radar.
With the aim to upgrade the RAF fleet in the summer of 2005 the Ministry of National Defence initiated consultations with various companies for the acquisition of new fighters, with the main competitors being the Swedish Gripen with the J-39 Gripen fighter, and Lockheed Martin with the F-16. In any event, the modernisation of the RAF will involve the conclusion of a contract for a total of over USD 1 bln., which could be signed by the end of the year 2006. There are diverging claims as to the exact number of aircraft to be acquired, with the figure ranging from 24 fighters as announced by Minister of National Defence Teodor Atansiu to 48 in the words of Chief of the General Staff Gen. Eugen Badalan. At present the RAF is operating 48 MIG 21 Lancer fighters, with the prospective new acquisitions expected to enter into service in the year 2008 or 2009.
Navy
Following an agreement signed in 2003 with the government of Great Britain, Romania acquired two ex-royal type 22 frigates. Both were refurbished by BAE Systems, with their crew having been trained for five months in Great Britain. The Regele Ferdinand frigate was introduced to service in the Romanian Navy in September 2004, while Regina Maria arrived in the Port of Constanta on July 25th 2005.
As a historic event could be described the signing of the US-Romanian Agreement of Access on December 6th 2005, stipulating the terms of the US use of 4 military facilities on Romanian territory - the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, the Babadag training base and two training areas in Cincu and Smardan. The status of the military to be deployed to Romania respects the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), as well as the additional SOFA concluded with Romania in October 2001 and ratified in 2002.
Under the Agreement the Romanian Ministry of National Defence is the institution responsible for ensuring the proper coordination between the US forces and Romanian authorities.The above-mentioned military facilities will be open for NATO and Partnership for Peace excercises aimed at strengthening regional military cooperation.
In the years 2004 and 2005 the RAFs actively contributed to the peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. At present there are 860 Romanian military serving in Iraq under Polish and Italian command. Since the spring of 2005, 100 Romanian soldiers are engaged in the protection of dignitaries within the UN Assistance Mission of Protection (UNAMI) in Basra.
Partnerships
The Romanian Armed Forces continue to cooperate in multinational initiatves, being particularly active in the Multinational Peace Force - South-Eastern Europe (MPF-SEE); the Central-European Cooperation Initiative (CENCOOP); the Multinational Stand-by High Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG); and the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Group (BLACKSEAFOR).
TOTAL ARMED FORCESACTIVE 97,200 (including 10,000 in centrally controlled units; estimated 29,600 conscripts)
Terms of service All services 12 months
RESERVES 104,000
ARMY 66,000
(including 18,500 conscripts)
1 Joint Ops Command (corps), 2 ops command (division)
1 Land Forces HQ
2 Territorial Corps Command with
10 Active brigades: 1 tank, 3 mechanised, 1 mountain, 1 AB, 1 artillery, 1 AA, 1 engineer, 1 logistic
14 Territorial brigades: 1 tank, 6 mechanised, 2 mountain, 2 artillery, 2 AA, 1 engineer
Readiness is reported as 80-90% for Active brigade and 20-40% for Territorial brigade
EQUIPMENT
MBT 1,258: 717 T-55, 314 TR-85 M1, 227 TR-580
ASLT GUN 84 SU-100
RECCE 4 BRDM-2
AIFV 177 MLI-84
APC 1,583: 166 TAB-77, 378 TABC-79, 881 TAB-71, 88 MLVM, 70 TAB ZIMBRU, plus 1,119 "look-a-likes"
TOTAL ARTILLERY 1,238
- TOWED 661: 122mm: 163 M-1938 (M-30)(A-19); 152mm; 114 Gun-how 85, 330 Model 81, 54 M-1937 (ML-20)
- SP 48: 122mm: 6 2S1, 42 Model 89
- MLRS 122mm: 171 APR-40
- MOR 120mm: 358 M-1982
SSM launchers: 9 FROG (in store)
ATGM 53 9P122, 120 9P133, 54 9P148
ATK GUNS 100mm: 777 Gun 77, 72 Gun 75
AD GUNS 35mm: 4 Gepard, GDF-003;37mm: 230; 57mm: 216; 85mm: 12; 100mm: 213
SAM 64 SA-6/-7/-8
SURVEILLANCE 10 Big Fred ((SNAR-10) vehicle, artillery)
UAV 6 Shadow-600
NAVY 7,200
COMMAND Navy HQ with 1 Naval Operational Command (fleet level), 1 (Danube based) Riverine flotilla
BASES
Coastal Mangalia, Constanta
Danube Braila, Tulcea
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 7
FRIGATES 1
FFG 111 Marasesti with 4x2 SS-N-2C Styx SSM, SA-N-5 Grail SAM, 4x76 mm guns, 2x3 533mm ASTT, 2 ASW RL
CORVETTES 6
FS 6
4 Tetal 1 with 4x76mm guns, 4 ASTT, 2 ASW RL
2 Tetal II with 1x76mm gun, 4 ASTT, 2 ASW RLPATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 38
MISSILE CRAFT 6
3 Zborul PC(G) (FSU Tarantul I) with 2x2 SS-N-2C Styx SSM, 1x76mm gun
3 FSU Osa I PC(G) with 4 SS-N-2A Styx SSM
TORPEDO CRAFT 12
6 Epitrop PFT with 4x533mm TT
6 Huchuan PHT with 2 533mm TT (serviceability in doubt)
PATROL CRAFT 20
RIVERINE 20
5 Brutar PCR with 1x100mm gun, 1x122mm RL, 3 Kogalniceanu PCR with 2x100mm gun, 12 VB 76 PCR<
MINE WARFARE 12
MINELAYERS 2 Cosar, capacity 100 mines
MINE COUNTERMEASURES 10
4 Musca MSO, 6 VD141 MSI
SUPPORT AND MISCELLANEOUS 13
2 Croitor logistic support, 1 AK, 3 AOT (maritime); 2 AT; 2 AGOR, 2 AGF, 1 AX (training)
NAVAL INFANTRY
1 Naval infantry batallion
EQUIPMENT
APC 3 TABC-79; 10 TAB-7IM
AIR FORCE 14,000
(3,800 conscripts); 106 combat aicraft, no attack helicopters
Flying hours 120
Air Force HQ: 1 air Op Command, 1 Air Division, 6 air bases, 1 training base
FGA 4 air bases with 81 MiG-21 Lancer (68 A (air-to-ground), 13 B (two-seat trainers))
FTR 1 air base with 25 MiG-21 Lancer C (AD)
TRANSPORT aircraft 2 An-24, 6 An-26, 4 C-130B helicopters 9 IAR-330, 3 Mi-8
SURVEY 3 An-30
HELICOPTERS
CBT SPT 8 IAR-330 SOCAT, 32 IAR-330, 22 IAR-316B
TRG aircraft 16 L-29, 13 L-39, 15 IAR-99
IN STORE 18 MiG-29, 38 MiG-23, 106 MiG-21, 26 L-29, 69 IAR-93, 9 IL-28, 4 An-24, 4 An-26, 60 IAR-316, 39 IAR-330, 9 Mi-8
AAM AA-2 Atoll, AA-8 Aphid-C, AA-11 Archer, Magic-2, Python-3
ASM AS-7 Kerry
UAV Shadow 600
AD 1 brigade, 2 regiment
7 SAM sites with 42 SA-2
FORCES ABROAD
AFGHANISTAN (OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM): 418 including 1 infantry battalion, 1 NBC company
IRAQ (Peace Support): estimated 730; 1 mechanised infantry brigade
UN AND PEACEKEEPING
AFGHANISTAN (UNAMA): 1 observation (ISAF):48
BOSNIA (SFOR II): 106
COTE D'IVOIRE (UNOCI): 6 incl. 4 observationsDROC (MONUC): 27 observations
ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (UNMEE): 8 observations
LIBERIA (UNMIL): 3 observations
SERBIA&MONTENEGRO (UNMIK): 1 observation, (KFOR): 226; 2 infantry company
PARAMILITARY 79,900
BORDER GUARDS (Ministry of Interior) 22,900
(including conscripts), 9 regional formations, 3 regional maritime detachments
33 TAB-71 APC, 18 SU-100 assault guns, 12 M-1931/37(A-19) 122mm howitzer, 18 M-38 120mm mortar, 7 PRC Shanghai II PFI
GENDARMERIE (Ministry of Interior) estimated 57,000
Source: The Military Balance 2004 - 2005, published by the Institute of International and Strategic Studies