Romania to clear fighter jet purchase in weeks

BUCHAREST, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The Romanian government is likely to give its approval in the next week or two to plans to buy fighter aircraft to bring its outdated air force up to NATO standards, Defence Minister Teodor Melescanu said on Tuesday.

Romania joined NATO in 2004 and has agreed to replace its Soviet-made MiG-21s with new aircraft.

The minister has said in the past the government had plans to spend at least 4 billion euros ($5.8 billion) for 48 aircraft.

"Very soon, maybe in a week or two, the government will agree on the procedure to acquire the planes," Melescanu was quoted as saying by the local Agerpres news agency.

Last month, Melescanu said the government would either invite companies to take part in a tender after approving the purchase or start direct negotiations with one of them.

Five aircraft are in the running: the F-16 built by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), the F-18 from Boeing Co (BA.N), the Rafale from France's Dassault (AVMD.PA), the Gripen from Sweden's SAAB (SAABb.ST) and the Eurofighter from EADS (EAD.PA).

Bucharest's choice will depend, in part, on the offers made by aircraft makers to offset costs with reinvestment in Romania.

Speaking at a news conference also attended by Swedish Defence Minister Sven Tolgfors, Melescanu also said Gripen's offset offer so far was "generous".

"But it is at a preliminary level," he was quoted saying.

The second-poorest European Union member, Romania has been a staunch ally of Washington's military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Reporting by Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Giles Elgood)