CHISINAU. April 16 (Interfax) - Moldova's National Army will receive an aid package from the European Union, including air defense systems, Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii said.
"These new air defense systems will be able to intercept and destroy aerial vehicles, planes, helicopters, and some models of missiles," Nosatii told journalists after a government meeting on Wednesday.
"Moldova needs European support in order to be able to ensure the security of its citizens and strengthen the defense capabilities of the country," he said.
"Air defense remains a priority for us. In this context, apart from airspace monitoring systems, we have found an opportunity to discuss a transition to the next stage, which directly involves air defense systems," Nosatii said.
In the coming days, Moldovan authorities and European partners will agree the transfer of this aid package, which will be provided as a grant, he said.
Nosatii said in January that a new radar capable of detecting drones would be delivered to and deployed in Moldova in 2026. The contract was signed on April 5, 2024, he said, adding that an order for the radar had already been placed and it would be delivered in the first half of 2026.
The Moldovan Defense Ministry received an airspace surveillance radar in December 2023. The 14-million-euro French radar, Ground Master 200 the Thales company, was purchased using state budget funds. It can detect airborne targets within a 250-kilometer radius.