The European Union will begin contracting, tendering and procurement procedures for a medium-range air defense system for the Republic of Moldova in the coming weeks.
The European Commission provided the clarification on Friday to TVR Moldova regarding the timeline for the €120 million measure approved in July under the European Peace Facility (EPF).
Brussels confirmed that implementation of the measure has already begun, but has not yet provided a timeline for when the air defense system will be delivered to Moldova.
“Meanwhile, the short-range air defense equipment financed through the EPF assistance measures of 2024 and 2025 is already in the procurement process. Air surveillance equipment financed through the 2023 assistance measure has already been delivered and contributes to the Republic of Moldova’s capacity to monitor the situation in its airspace,” European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said.
The clarification comes after Moldova’s Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi said earlier this week that an integrated system capable of detecting and destroying aerial targets could reach Moldova only in more than three years.
Nosatîi stressed that even this timeframe was not certain, as drone attacks are increasingly approaching Moldova’s borders.
The European Commission has not confirmed whether the system could be delivered to Moldova in approximately three years, nor has it provided an alternative delivery deadline.
Until then, Brussels said that other air defense capabilities financed previously through the European Peace Facility are already at different stages of implementation.
The short-range air defense equipment financed through the 2024 and 2025 assistance measures is currently being procured, while the air surveillance equipment included in the 2023 measure has already been delivered.
The €120 million measure for Moldova was approved by the EU in July under the European Peace Facility and is intended to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities.