ROMARM: The domestic defense equipments look exceptional, but they are built with logistics from the 1920s

• Romania"s military industry is focusing predominantly on the EU and on NATO, because the Romanian army lacks funds

Our defense equipment looks outstanding, but it is built with logistics and verification tools from the 1920, Vasile Marius Crişan, the general manager of "Romarm" said yesterday, and he added: "We had a customer who was interested in one of our products and he told me: < The products look exceptional, but they have been made with logistics and tools from the 1920s >". He said that Romania produces advanced equipment: "We have low-and high-caliber assault weapons and ammunition, and all of them are top level. We have a military technology sector and we manufacture Armored Personnel Carriers. One of our contracts with the National Ministry of Defense concerns the manufacturing of 8x8 APCs".

The defense industry is going through a rough patch, especially lately, after the passing of two European directives regulating the sector, says Viorel Manole, the executive director of the Professional Association of Military Equipment Manufacturers of Bucharest (PATROMIL): "We are making major efforts to become part of the strategy for the development of the market, otherwise we won"t be able to handle the next weapons buying programs. (...) The EU wants a European market for defense equipment. Soon, member countries will no longer buy military equipment without verifying everything, including the origins of the raw materials. This is an advantage for us".

Officials of the defense industry, who were present yesterday at this year"s edition of the military equipment exhibition- Expomil 2011 - stressed that Romania "focuses predominantly on the EU and NATO, because the Romanian army is lacking money".

All the aforementioned speakers said in unison that "Expomil" is intended to help identify opportunities for developing military equipment, as well as for creating new, durable partnerships, that would open new markets for the Romanian defense industry.

The presence of the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Business Environment (MECMA) at "Expomil" is intended to help the domestic companies become increasingly "eligible and competitive", allowing them to conclude major contracts, said Liliana Stuparu, advisor with the MECMA: "Romanian companies must be able to withstand competition from strong foreign companies. (...) The purpose of the setup of the booth of the MECMA expresses Romania"s concern with the dangers that threaten the world. We are concerned with having the equipment needed for fighting terrorist attacks".

Cătălin Moraru, the deputy of the Armament Department of the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) stressed that the main goal of the cooperation between the companies activating in the defense sector and institutions in the field is to help provide military equipment for the Romanian troops. Priority projects are the transportation of pilot-free aircraft, individual weaponry and individual protection systems.

"Expomil 2011" will take place between September 22nd - September 25th and will bring together over 80 companies from ten countries (Austria, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Great Britain, Holland, Poland, Romania - with 42 companies - and the United States of America).

One of the novelties of this year"s edition of the defense equipment exhibition is the participation of all the 16 branches of "Romarm", with all the types of equipment which they manufacture.

The head of the PATROMIL also said that one of the capabilities which the EU wants to develop and which Romania will present this year at the fair, through companies such as UTI or Romsys, is cybernetic defense.

According to Mrs Stuparu, MECMA will promote CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) products. Also, two weeks from now, companies from the Czech Republic and Slovakia will visit Romania to see the Gap Filler radar.