Romania Defence Budget 2026: 49.4 Billion Lei and the Big Modernisation Programmes
Romania’s 2026 defence budget is 49.426 billion lei, about 2.45% of GDP, and 38.1% of it is earmarked for major equipment. That makes 2026 one of the biggest modernisation years for NATO’s largest Black Sea ally. Bucharest is replacing Soviet-era tanks, guns and armoured vehicles with Abrams tanks, K9 howitzers and Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. It already fields 54 HIMARS launchers, and it has committed to the NATO target of 3.5% of GDP for core defence by 2035. This article sets out the official budget numbers and the main programmes. It also explains how Romania plans to grow its spending. For an overview of the current order of battle, see our Romania military strength inventory.
Romania’s defence budget 2026 at a glance
- MApN budget 2026: 49.426 billion lei, approximately 2.45% of GDP. This is the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) allocation.
- Change: +16.62% compared with preliminary 2025 execution.
- Equipment share: 18.832 billion lei (38.10%) for major equipment programmes, well above NATO’s 20% guideline.
- Long-term target: 3.5% of GDP on core defence plus 1.5% on defence-related spending by 2035, as agreed at the NATO Hague summit in June 2025.
- Planning documents: the 2027–2036 Armed Forces Equipment Plan and a transformation programme to 2044, both approved by the Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) on 7 September 2026.
How big is Romania’s military budget in 2026?
According to the Ministry of National Defence, Parliament approved a budget of 49.426 billion lei for the ministry in 2026. That is about 2.45% of gross domestic product and 16.62% more than the ministry actually spent in 2025. President Nicușor Dan has rounded the figure to “2.5% of GDP” in public remarks.
The ministry says the money will:
- pay full salaries for military and civilian personnel and fund retention measures;
- cover Romanian contributions to NATO and EU common budgets and operations abroad;
- pay for infrastructure at strategic sites;
- fund the first stage of a new voluntary basic military training programme for up to 3,000 short-term volunteers.
Where the equipment money goes
Out of the total, 18.832 billion lei (38.1%) is reserved for “major military equipment programmes”. The biggest land programmes under way or contracted include the following.
| Programme | What it replaces | Status (late 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks | T-55 and TR-85 tanks | First tranche of 54 tanks under contract; a much larger second tranche has been proposed |
| K9 Thunder 155 mm howitzers (54) and K10 resupply vehicles (36) | Soviet-era towed and self-propelled guns | Contracted with Hanwha in 2024; first units expected by early 2027 |
| Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles | MLI-84 “Jderul” (BMP-1 derived) | Rheinmetall’s Lynx selected in 2026 |
| Piranha 5 8×8 armoured vehicles | Older wheeled APCs | Deliveries ongoing, with local assembly |
| M142 HIMARS (54 launchers) | LAROM rocket artillery (complement) | All three systems delivered. See our HIMARS guide |
| Skyranger 35 on Lynx | Legacy short-range air defence guns | Ordered as part of a €5.7 billion package, according to Rheinmetall |
In the air and at sea, Romania is:
- completing its F-16 fleet;
- preparing for the F-35, after signing for 32 jets in 2024;
- buying Patriot batteries;
- ordering H225M Caracal helicopters (our report);
- ordering Thales GM200 radars (four more mobile radars in 2026);
- introducing Naval Strike Missile coastal defence batteries, ordered from Raytheon and Kongsberg.
The road to 3.5% of GDP
At the NATO summit in The Hague in June 2025, Romania and the other allies agreed to raise spending to 5% of GDP by 2035: 3.5% for core defence and 1.5% for defence-related items such as infrastructure and resilience. Romanian officials note that reaching 5% would mean spending more than 100 billion lei a year by 2035.
On 7 September 2026, the CSAT approved:
- the Armed Forces Equipment Plan for 2027–2036, which links equipment needs to multi-year funding;
- a programme for transformation, development and equipment of the Romanian Army to 2044;
- an analysis of how Romania will use the EU’s SAFE defence loan instrument.
The presidency said defence investments “will not be affected” by any austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit.
Why Romania is spending more
- The war next door. Romania shares a long border with Ukraine and a Black Sea coastline with Russian naval activity. Russian drones have repeatedly strayed into Romanian airspace, and Romanian F-16s have shot some down.
- Allied presence. Romania hosts NATO forces, including a multinational battlegroup. Allied fighters patrol its skies; Spanish F-18s, for example, scrambled 36 times in three months.
- A US posture review. The CSAT said it is analysing host-nation support as Washington reviews its military posture in Europe.
How Romania compares with other NATO members
At around 2.45% of GDP, Romania spends above the old 2% benchmark. That is below frontline allies such as Poland and the Baltic states, but in line with much of NATO’s south-east. See our ranking of NATO’s biggest defence budgets in 2026 for the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is Romania’s defence budget for 2026?
49.426 billion lei for the Ministry of National Defence, about 2.45% of GDP, according to the ministry.
How much of Romania’s defence budget goes on equipment?
18.832 billion lei, or 38.1% of the 2026 ministry budget.
Will Romania reach 3.5% of GDP?
Romania has committed to reach 3.5% of GDP for core defence by 2035, plus 1.5% for related spending. The CSAT approved a 2027–2036 equipment plan to support that path.
Does Romania have HIMARS?
Yes. Romania bought three HIMARS systems with 18 launchers each, 54 in total, and all have been delivered.
Sources
- Romanian Ministry of National Defence: “The 2026 budget of the Ministry of National Defence was adopted by Parliament”.
- Romanian Presidential Administration (via Agerpres): CSAT meeting statement, 7 September 2026.
- Euronews Romania: “CSAT: defence investments will not be affected by austerity”, September 2026.
- Rheinmetall: Skyranger press release, 10 June 2026 (Romanian Skyranger 35 order).
- M&E Global: “Old Equipment Out, New Equipment In – Romania’s procurement programmes 2021–2026”, September 2026.
