During the third edition of the French-Romanian Security & Defence Business Forum, the Romanian Defence Industry Employers' Organisation (OPIA) underscored the strategic importance of Romania's defence industry for strengthening security on the Eastern Flank and highlighted the need to develop Europe's industrial resilience.

Held at the Dacia Business Center and organised in partnership with Business France and the French Embassy in Bucharest, the event brought together representatives of the defence industry, Romanian and French companies, and decision-makers focused on expanding industrial and technological cooperation between the two countries.

In the opening panel on strengthening defence capabilities through European industrial cooperation, Razvan Pircalabescu, OPIA president and CEO of ROMARM, outlined OPIA's perspective on developing Romania's defence industry, emphasising investment, technology transfer and the creation of competitive production capacities.

OPIA aims to actively support the reindustrialisation of Romania's defence sector and its integration into European and transatlantic value chains. The organisation currently brings together 129 members and over 50,000 specialists, and backs the strategic objective of raising the national defence industry's contribution to 5% of GDP.

Its strategy focuses not only on increasing public defence allocations but also on transforming investments into industrial capacities that generate added value and revenue for the Romanian economy and state budget.

OPIA advocates directing a significant share of defence funding toward domestic production and projects that strengthen Romania's ability to supply equipment and technologies to its own armed forces and to NATO and EU partners.

A key strategic objective is leveraging existing capacities in Romania's civilian industries - particularly automotive, software and IT - to develop defence-related applications and technologies. This approach would allow rapid expansion of production capabilities, use of existing infrastructure and integration of advanced technologies into military systems.

Thirty OPIA member companies participated, illustrating the sector's technological diversity.

Land systems, naval infrastructure and heavy industry were represented by UMB, Carfil, Rheinmetall Automecanica, Mangalia Naval Shipyard, IRUM, ALRO Slatina, UZINSIDER and COMELF.

Advanced technologies, unmanned systems and digitalisation were showcased by INTELLDRONES, AGRICLOUD, TOP Metrology, Power Net Consulting and Greensoft. Tactical logistics companies included OXO Network Corporation and TWOMAR Group.

The ecosystem also includes precision mechatronics, CNC machining and high-accuracy components manufacturers such as COMPA, ELMEC, TPS COM, NICMAR-DANCI, Miller Manufacturing, Altur, Comboteh, OIL SERVICES LTD and Limex.

Strengthening cooperation between Romanian and French defence industries is a key development direction for OPIA. Member companies already collaborate with major French groups in cybersecurity, radar systems, aerospace, secure military communications, propulsion and mobility for land and naval forces. Partners include Thales, Airbus, Roxel and CNIM.

The presence of major French groups such as Thales and Expleo within OPIA's ecosystem further signals the potential for expanding bilateral industrial cooperation.

A concrete example is the development in Brasov of a Drone Pilot Centre of Excellence, created in partnership with French group DCI (Defense Conseil International) - part of the broader trend of accelerating capabilities based on unmanned systems and adapting defence industry output to new technologies and operational requirements.

OPIA emphasised to French partners and investors that Romania has an industrial base suitable for developing new production capacities, co-development projects and integration of advanced technologies.

Romania benefits from access to European and Euro-Atlantic defence-industry financing mechanisms, including the European Defence Fund (EDF), Horizon Europe, and NATO initiatives such as NIAG and DIANA.

OPIA also views the SAFE programme as a key instrument for developing industrial capacities and strengthening critical supply chains. These mechanisms can help reduce investment risks and accelerate the transition from joint R&D to actual production of defence equipment and technologies in Romania.

By participating in the French-Romanian Security & Defence Business Forum 2026, OPIA reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating dialogue between Romania's defence industry and international partners.

The Romanian Defence Industry Employers' Organisation (OPIA) represents the national defence-industry ecosystem. It supports the modernisation and technological advancement of Romania's defence sector, the development of production capacities and the integration of Romanian companies into European and transatlantic security value chains. AGERPRES (EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)