Romanian Armed Forces
Encyclopedia
The Land Forces
, Air Force
and Naval Forces
of Romania
are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces (Romanian: Forţele Armate Române or Armata Română) . The current Commander-in-chief
is Major General
Ștefan Dănilă, managed by the Minister of National Defense, while the president
is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces during wartime.
90,000 men and women currently comprise the Armed Forces, 75,000 of them being military personnel and the other 15,000 civilians. The Land Forces have a reported strength of 45,800, the Air Force 13,250 and the Naval Forces 6,800, while the remaining 8,800 serve in other fields.
, which represents approximately 2.9 billion dollar
s (ranked 47th).
with multiple NATO capabilities. They are participating in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan
, together with the other NATO countries. The Air Force currently operates modernized Soviet MiG-21 LanceR fighters, which are due to be replaced by new fighters by 2013, according to present plans, however due to poor funds and economy the plan may easily change. The Air Force has also ordered 7 new C-27J Spartan tactical airlift aircraft, in order to replace the bulk of the old transport force. Two modernized ex-Royal Navy
Type 22 frigate
s were acquired by the Naval Forces in 2004 and a further four modern missile corvettes will be commissioned in the next few years. Three domestically-produced IAR 330 Puma NAVAL
helicopters were also ordered by the Naval Forces, and were commissioned in late 2008.
Romania
joined NATO in 2004. As a consequence, extensive preparations were made to abolish conscription by 2007 and create a professional army in place of a conscripted one.
The new armed forces include 90,000 men and women, of whom about 75,000 are military personnel (the remaining 15,000 or so are civilians). 60,000 of the 90,000 are active forces; 30,000 comprise the territorial forces . Out of the 75,000 troops which comprise the actual military, about 45,800 make up the Romanian Land Forces
, 13,250 serve as the Romanian Air Force
and 6,800 are in the Romanian Naval Forces
; the remaining 8,800 serve in other fields .
The Romanian Military will essentially undergo a three-stage restructuring. As of 2007, the first short-term stage has been completed. 2015 marks the end of the second stage when the armed forces will reach a superior compatibility with NATO forces.. In 2025, the long-term stage is to be completed.
The stages aim at modernizing the structure of the armed forces, reducing the personnel as well as acquiring newer and more improved technology that is compatible with NATO standards.
Romanian troops participated in the occupation of Iraq, reaching a peak of 730 soldiers before being slowly drawn down to 350 soldiers. Romania terminated its mission in Iraq and withdrew its last troops on July 24, 2009.
Romania currently has troops deployed in Afghanistan
, and is planning to nearly double its troop strength there to 1,800 by September 2010, according to an announcement made by President Traian Basescu in Prague on April 8, 2010.
The following Romanian institutions have military status but are not part of the Armed Forces:
Romanian Land Forces
The Romanian Land Forces is the army of Romania, and the main component of the Romanian Armed Forces. In recent years, full professionalisation and a major equipment overhaul have transformed the nature of the force.The Romanian Land Forces were founded on...
, Air Force
Romanian Air Force
The Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...
and Naval Forces
Romanian Naval Forces
The Romanian Navy is the navy branch of the Romanian Armed Forces; it operates in the Black Sea and on the Danube.-History:-Development of the Romanian Navy:The Romanian Navy has been founded in 1860 as a river flotilla on the Danube...
of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
are collectively known as the Romanian Armed Forces (Romanian: Forţele Armate Române or Armata Română) . The current Commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
is Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Ștefan Dănilă, managed by the Minister of National Defense, while the president
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces during wartime.
90,000 men and women currently comprise the Armed Forces, 75,000 of them being military personnel and the other 15,000 civilians. The Land Forces have a reported strength of 45,800, the Air Force 13,250 and the Naval Forces 6,800, while the remaining 8,800 serve in other fields.
Budget
Total defence spending currently accounts for 2.05% of total national GDPGross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
, which represents approximately 2.9 billion dollar
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
s (ranked 47th).
Equipment
The Land Forces have overhauled their equipment in recent years, and are today a modern armyArmy
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
with multiple NATO capabilities. They are participating in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, together with the other NATO countries. The Air Force currently operates modernized Soviet MiG-21 LanceR fighters, which are due to be replaced by new fighters by 2013, according to present plans, however due to poor funds and economy the plan may easily change. The Air Force has also ordered 7 new C-27J Spartan tactical airlift aircraft, in order to replace the bulk of the old transport force. Two modernized ex-Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Type 22 frigate
Type 22 frigate
The Type 22 Broadsword class is a class of frigate built for the British Royal Navy. Fourteen of the class were built in total, with production divided into three batches. With the decommissioning of HMS Cornwall on 30 June 2011, the final Type 22 of the Royal Navy was retired from service...
s were acquired by the Naval Forces in 2004 and a further four modern missile corvettes will be commissioned in the next few years. Three domestically-produced IAR 330 Puma NAVAL
IAR 330
|-See also:-External links:*...
helicopters were also ordered by the Naval Forces, and were commissioned in late 2008.
Manpower
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
joined NATO in 2004. As a consequence, extensive preparations were made to abolish conscription by 2007 and create a professional army in place of a conscripted one.
The new armed forces include 90,000 men and women, of whom about 75,000 are military personnel (the remaining 15,000 or so are civilians). 60,000 of the 90,000 are active forces; 30,000 comprise the territorial forces . Out of the 75,000 troops which comprise the actual military, about 45,800 make up the Romanian Land Forces
Romanian Land Forces
The Romanian Land Forces is the army of Romania, and the main component of the Romanian Armed Forces. In recent years, full professionalisation and a major equipment overhaul have transformed the nature of the force.The Romanian Land Forces were founded on...
, 13,250 serve as the Romanian Air Force
Romanian Air Force
The Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...
and 6,800 are in the Romanian Naval Forces
Romanian Naval Forces
The Romanian Navy is the navy branch of the Romanian Armed Forces; it operates in the Black Sea and on the Danube.-History:-Development of the Romanian Navy:The Romanian Navy has been founded in 1860 as a river flotilla on the Danube...
; the remaining 8,800 serve in other fields .
Modernization
The stages aim at modernizing the structure of the armed forces, reducing the personnel as well as acquiring newer and more improved technology that is compatible with NATO standards.
Current deployments
Romania currently has troops deployed in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and is planning to nearly double its troop strength there to 1,800 by September 2010, according to an announcement made by President Traian Basescu in Prague on April 8, 2010.
Other militarized institutions
- Romanian GendarmerieJandarmeria RomânaJandarmeria Română is the military branch of the two Romanian police forces .The gendarmerie is subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform and does not have responsibility for policing the Romanian Armed Forces...
(Jandarmeria Română), subordinated to the Ministry of Administration and Interior; - Inspectoratul General al Corpului Pompierilor Militari (Military Firefighters) and Comandamentul Protecţiei Civile (Civil Defense), merged into the Romanian Inspectorate for Emergency SituationsRomanian Inspectorate for Emergency SituationsThe Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations is a structure of the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform created on December 15, 2004, by merging the Civil Defense Command with the General Inspectorate of the Military Firefighters Corps .-External links:*...
within the Ministry of the Interior; - Serviciul Român de InformaţiiServiciul Român de InformatiiThe Romanian Intelligence Service is the Romanian domestic intelligence service. It is considered the descendant of the former Departamentul Securităţii Statului , of the Socialist Republic of Romania. The official decree The Romanian Intelligence Service (', SRI) is the Romanian domestic...
(Romanian Intelligence Service); - Serviciul de Protecţie şi PazăServiciul de Protectie si PazaProtection and Guard Service is an institution of the Romanian state. It operates in the domain of national security and it is specialized in protecting the Romanian officials, the foreign officials during their stay in Romania, and their families, according to the law...
(Protection and Guard Service, provides protection to Romanian and foreign officials); - Serviciul de Telecomunicaţii SpecialeServiciul de Telecomunicatii SpecialeServiciul de Telecomunicaţii Speciale is one of the Romanian secret services. It provides telecommunication services for the Romanian public authorities in time of peace, war, and state of emergency....
(Special Telecommunications Service); - Serviciul de Informaţii ExterneServiciul de Informatii ExterneThe Foreign Intelligence Service, or Serviciul de Informaţii Externe in Romanian, is, under Law no. 1/1998, "the state body specialized in foreign intelligence concerning the national security and the safeguarding of Romania and its interests"....
(Foreign Intelligence Service).
See also
- List of the Chiefs of the General Staff of Romania
- List of countries by number of active troops
- Foreign relations of RomaniaForeign relations of Romania-Europe: European Union :Romania joined the European Union on January 1, 2007. Romania also declared its public support for Turkey and Croatia joining the European Union. Romania shares a privileged economic relation with Turkey...
- Weapons and equipment of the Romanian Armed ForcesWeapons and equipment of the Romanian Armed Forces-Land Forces:Note: some of the land based equipment in this section is owned by the Air Force or Naval Forces, not the Land Forces.-Small arms:* PA md. 86 assault rifle * PM md. 63, PM md. 65, PM md...
External links
Official site of the Romanian Ministry of Defense (MoD) Official site of the Romanian General Staff Official site of the Romanian Land Forces Official site of the Romanian Air Force Official site of the Romanian Naval Forces- New U.S. Base in Romania To Be Larger Than Previously Estimated, ThePeacockReport.com, Oct. 11, 2006.