The EU is funding the procurement of a medium-range air defense system for EUR 120 million
Moldova plans to establish its own production of drones and air defense equipment. President Maia Sandu and Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu announced this on October 8 following a closed parliamentary session and at the Moldova Security Forum. The government is preparing a legislative initiative to launch the production. This was reported by NewsMaker, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Speaking at the Moldova Security Forum on October 8, President Maia Sandu stated that the government is drafting legislative amendments that will allow the manufacturing of necessary equipment for air defense systems directly within Moldova. The respective bill is scheduled to be submitted to parliament in the near future.
According to Sandu, Moldova currently purchases the required equipment abroad using its own funds and partner resources, but faces the problem of long waiting lines. The President emphasized that the country is located in a more vulnerable region and needs additional support to ensure the protection of its citizens.
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu confirmed these plans following a closed session dedicated to the new structure of the Armed Forces of Moldova. Answering journalists’ questions about potential drone production for Ukraine, Grosu noted: “No, of course, we will produce drones for ourselves.”
Grosu added that the drones could have a dual purpose: they can be used in emergency situations by rescuers, firefighters, and in agriculture. He also reported that the government is working on a legislative initiative to launch such production, although the bill itself was not discussed at the October 8 session.
Airspace Violations
Sandu noted at the forum that over the past seven days, nine Russian drones violated Moldova’s airspace, and in September more than 20 did so, exceeding the figure for the entire previous year. The President characterized these actions as deliberate as part of a hybrid war.
The Moldovan Prosecutor’s Office has opened 30 criminal cases related to illegal flights through the country’s airspace. So far, there are no suspects or defendants in any of them.
International Support and Air Defense Procurement
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova has repeatedly summoned the appointed Russian ambassador, Oleg Ozerov, to express protests regarding the fall of UAVs on the country’s territory. Ozerov did not rule out that some drones might be Russian, but claimed that Russia’s target is Ukraine, not Moldova.
The European Commission previously confirmed to TVR Moldova that the EU is preparing to launch procurement procedures for a medium-range air defense system for Moldova. It will be funded under a EUR 120 million aid package approved in July through the European Peace Facility. The delivery timeline for the system has not yet been announced.
Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatîi previously reported that the National Army is planned to be equipped with systems capable of shooting down UAVs and missiles. Since 2022, Moldova’s airspace has been illegally violated 84 times, including by Russian and Iranian-made missiles and UAVs.
Illustrative photo: U.S. Air Force / Capt. William Leasure / Public domain
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