Romania is taking a bold step in European defence cooperation—partnering with Ukraine to build military drones intended for both national use and export across the continent.
The plan, revealed by Romania’s Digi24, involves a formal agreement between the two countries’ defence ministries.
The collaboration would see Ukraine bring its battle-hardened drone expertise to the table, while Romania would cover the funding for components and share production responsibilities at a future facility, likely based in Brașov.
This is more than just a bilateral project. It’s a message to Europe.
The drones are expected to serve Romania’s own army first. But there are broader ambitions—exports to NATO and EU allies are clearly on the radar.
Ukraine has already secured similar production deals with Denmark and Norway, signalling a wider European interest in Ukrainian drone tech shaped by real battlefield experience.
Negotiations are ongoing. Romania’s Defence Minister is reportedly preparing to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart and officials in Kyiv to finalise the details. That said, production won’t start overnight.
Budget allocations from Romania’s next military spending plan will play a crucial role, meaning 2026 is the earliest realistic launch window.
The move also aligns with statements from President-elect Nicușor Dan, who recently spoke about Romania’s role in supporting Ukraine without crossing into a combat deployment.
“First, to have a big operational support on Romanian territory, yes. To be part of the army guaranteeing peace in Ukraine, no. I think it would not be very appropriate because of the tension that already exists between Romania and Russia,” he said.
Dan supports strong collaboration—logistical, industrial, strategic—but is clear on limits. Troops on the ground? Not Romania’s path, for now.
Still, this drone deal hints at a deeper involvement in bolstering Europe’s eastern flank. A quiet but clear message—Romania isn’t standing still.
If successful, this partnership could set a precedent. Not just for future tech sharing, but for building a resilient European defence sector—one factory, one drone at a time.
