Romania is considering terminating a $427 million contract to purchase military drones from Elbit Systems after significant delivery delays, the country’s defense minister said.
Defense Minister Radu Miruta stated that the agreement, signed in 2022, covers the acquisition of 21 Watchkeeper X tactical drones, which were originally scheduled for delivery in summer 2025.
Miruta said the supplier declared force majeure due to military developments in its home country and submitted three requests to delay delivery. Romania approved two extensions but rejected the latest request and is now reviewing whether to cancel the contract entirely.
He added that penalties for delays have already reached approximately €60 million ($69 million), noting that Romania has already paid part of the contract value.
The potential cancellation comes amid heightened regional tensions, as the US and Israel continue military operations targeting Iran, following a campaign launched in late February. The conflict has triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region, further complicating defense and supply dynamics.
The strikes occurred despite earlier diplomatic efforts, including talks mediated by Oman between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program.
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