Romania expects to sign an agreement with the United States to purchase latest-generation F-35 fighter jets as early as this fall, Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said on July 16. European countries have been ramping up defense spending amid concern about Russian aggression. Last September, Romania said it planned to buy 32 F-35s for $6.5 billion. The deal includes logistics and training services, flight simulators and ammunition, along with the jets. Tilvar has previously said the first planes would not be delivered before 2030. In the meantime, Bucharest has bought 32 secondhand F-16 fighter jets from Oslo, in addition to 17 acquired from Lisbon in 2016.
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