Senate's Defence Committee greenlights bill on Patriot missile systems purchase

The Senate's Defence Committee on Monday unanimously greenlighted the government's Army endowment bill providing for the purchase of seven Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. 

The government's bill on the Ground-based Air Defence Capability to be accomplished under the key endowment program "Long-range surface-to-air missile system" was registered at the Senate on November 9, with the request to be debated in a fast-track procedure. The bill provides for the purchase of seven Patriot surface-to-air missile systems plus the auxiliary equipment, for a total of about 4.62 billion US dollars, VAT included. Four systems will be assigned to the Air Force and three to the Land Force. 

Defence Minister Mihai Fifor, Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu, and Chief of Romania's General Staff, Gen. Nicolae Ciuca were also present at the meeting. AGERPRES .