BUCHAREST, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State has approved the sale of an MIM-104 Patriot air defense system to Romania, the U.S. 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 U.S. dollars, the acquisition will be funded through grants from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) donor countries.

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