Second EU-funded radar is set to arrive in Moldova by 2026
The second radar, purchased with financial support from the European Union, is set to arrive in the Republic of Moldova in 2026 and will become operational in the first semester, declared acting Minister of Defense, Anatolie Nosatîi.
According to the official, this new piece of monitoring equipment will be complementary to the current aerial surveillance system, significantly improving the detection of potential threats and boosting national security.
"The second radar is currently under construction. The procurement agreement was signed some time ago with the assistance of our EU partners and is being financed by the European Peace Facility," Nosatîi stated. "Its delivery is scheduled for 2026, and it must be operational within the first half of the year."
The Minister also highlighted a critical need for an interception system, which would allow for the shooting down of aerial threats.
"In this area, the law regarding airspace defense was elaborated. It mandates collaboration between state institutions to ensure citizen safety," he explained. "Crucially, it grants permission to use the Army's existing systems to shoot down targets that illegally fly over the territory of the Republic of Moldova. We have already acquired and obtained some systems, and we will continue these efforts," the Minister of Defense told TVR Moldova.
Anatolie Nosatîi confirmed that the two Moldova radars will allow the country to detect any dangers to its national airspace more easily and from a greater distance.
"The one we currently have is a latest-generation radar and is fully functional. Our personnel are trained to operate it and perform maintenance," Nosatîi said. "However, we need more to create a comprehensive system that allows us permanent aerial surveillance at various altitudes, especially now that the drone threat has become more frequent. We must be able to detect them."
The National Army received an airspace monitoring radar from France in December 2023. Authorities indicated the value of that initial monitoring equipment was approximately 14 million euros.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
