BUCHAREST - The US Department of State has approved the sale of an MIM-104 Patriot air defense system to Romania, the US Embassy here announced Tuesday on its website.

The system, which includes an AN/MPQ-65 radar and two M903 launch stations, will replace the unit Romania donated to Ukraine in September 2024, it said in a statement.

Valued at $262 million, the acquisition will be funded through grants from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) donor countries.

ALSO READ: F-16 training center for Ukrainian pilots opens in Romania

The embassy said the system will enhance Romania's ability to counter aerial threats in the Black Sea region.