Romania 'Warns' Naval Group to Sign Gowind Warship Contract or be eliminated from Tender

Romania’s defense ministry (MApN) has issued an ultimatum to France’s Naval Group to finalize the Gowind corvette contract soon or risk forfeiting to the subsequent contender.

This was reported by Defense Romania on June 14, 2023.

This year marks four years since ministry awarded a $1.4 billion contract for four Gowind 2500-class corvettes to a consortium comprising of Naval Group and Romania’s Constanța Shipyard. The project has been delayed due to financial disagreements between the two companies. Romania repeatedly extended the deadline to sign the contract over the past year.

“If the French party fails to sign the contract within the next three days, MApN will commence discussions with Damen, the runner-up contender,” Romanian Minister of National Defense Angel Tîlvăr warned, as per the report.

Naval Group has been given a week’s time to respond, the minister said.

Dutch company Damen had proposed Sigma 10514 corvettes equipped with American weaponry. Last year, the company assured it could make up for the delay by simultaneously building corvettes at the Galați and Mangalia shipyards in Romania.