On April 16, 2025, Moldovan Defense Minister Anatoly Nosaty announced that the Moldovan National Army will soon receive a new batch of military assistance from the European Union, which will include modern air defense systems. This aid, provided in the form of a grant, represents a major step forward in Moldova’s efforts to strengthen its national defense and safeguard its airspace amid growing regional security threats.
According to Moldovan Defense Minister Nosaty, the incoming air defense systems can intercept and destroy a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, and certain types of missiles. “The new air defense systems will be equipped with the functions of intercepting and destroying aircraft, airplanes, helicopters, and some models of missiles,” he stated after a government meeting on Wednesday. However, no specific details have been disclosed regarding the exact types or models of air defense systems that will be delivered to Moldova as part of this European assistance package.
Nosaty emphasized that European military support is crucial for Moldova to ensure the safety of its citizens and to build a credible defense capability. “European support is necessary for Moldova to ensure the safety of citizens and strengthen the country’s defense capability,” he noted. He also reaffirmed that air defense remains one of the country’s top military priorities. “In this context, in addition to the airspace monitoring systems, we found an opportunity to discuss the transition to the next stage, which concerns the systems of direct defense of airspace,” Nosaty added.
The Moldovan government and its European partners are expected to coordinate the logistics and transfer of this assistance in the coming days. The decision comes at a critical time for Moldova, a country that remains under significant geopolitical pressure from Russia. Moldova gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, but Russia continues to regard the country — which lies sandwiched between Ukraine and European Union member Romania — as part of its traditional sphere of influence. This perspective has created ongoing tensions, especially as Moldova seeks closer integration with European institutions and aligns more closely with NATO member states.
In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and repeated threats from Moscow, Moldova has been prioritizing the modernization of its military, particularly its air defense capabilities. The acquisition of EU-funded systems marks a significant step in building a defense architecture capable of responding to evolving regional threats, including potential airspace violations and missile attacks.
Currently, Moldova’s air defense capabilities rely heavily on obsolete Soviet-era systems. The Moldovan Armed Forces operate a single regiment equipped with the S-125M1 Neva-M1 (NATO reporting name: SA-3 Goa) surface-to-air missile system. While functional, this Cold War-era system lacks the sophistication and coverage needed to counter modern aerial threats, including high-speed aircraft, precision-guided munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles.