Romanian aid to Ukraine: More than just Patriot missiles
Although Romania officially reports only the Patriot missile battery and training support for Ukrainian F-16 pilots as assistance to Ukraine, it has provided much more. Here is what else Romania has contributed.
According to the portal Defense Express, a Romanian war correspondent suggests that keeping such secrets is pointless, as equipment can still be identified through open sources. There is more than just the Patriot system battery. For instance, firearms provided by Romania, such as large-caliber machine guns like the DSzKM, have Cugir markings indicating they were made at the Uzina Mecanică Cugir factory.
Additionally, heavy equipment can be recognized by its camouflage and markings, such as the APR-40 multiple rocket launchers (a copy of BM-21 Grad), Model 89 howitzers (a licensed version of the 2S1 Gvozdika), or TAB-71 transports (BTR-70). Romania is also supplying Ukraine with artillery ammunition.
Soviet-era systems and ammunition — goods currently hard to source in the West
Despite Western equipment supplies to Ukraine, most of the heavy equipment the Ukrainians are using is still Soviet. New Western equipment, like the M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, primarily went to new or reformed units, while other units received Soviet-era equipment.
This was the optimal solution, as veterans could begin using it after only short training. Together with Bulgaria, Poland, and the Czech Republic, Romania has been an essential supplier of Soviet-era ammunition to Ukraine.
Romanian 122 mm Soviet-era artillery for Ukraine — more valuable than it seems
The self-propelled 2S1 Gvozdika systems provided, despite their range of 9 miles and relatively low impact strength, with shells containing about 6 pounds of TNT, offer significant support for Ukraine.
Firstly, it is a self-propelled system, allowing for faster relocation of firing positions than towed howitzers. Secondly, the steel armor protects the crew against artillery shrapnel.
Meanwhile, the APR-40 launchers can cover a significant area with salvo fire from 40 rockets of 122 mm caliber, each usually armed with a 42-pound fragmentation warhead with a range exceeding 98 feet. Variants also have cluster warheads containing anti-armor bomblets or mines. The range of the most common rockets is around 12 miles, but new variants, such as the Polish M-21 "FENIKS," can reach 25 miles. This is a formidable force.
