Romania to spend $1.1 billion on acquiring used Abrams tanks

Europe, News, US May 20, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Romanian lawmakers have approved the country’s National Defense Ministry’s request to spend $1.1 billion on purchasing 54 units of used M1A1 Abrams tanks from the United States. The purchase order of the 54 tanks would include all the gear and services necessary to operate the tanks.

The request was presented before the Romanian Parliament’s Commission for Defense, Public Order, and National Security. The majority of the members of the commissions are from Romania’s ruling coalition of three major political parties. After gaining a nod of approval from the commission, a bill would be presented in the parliament, which is also expected to pass without a hurdle.

The Romanian government has significantly increased its efforts to strengthen the country’s land and aerial defense capabilities. The recent effort to acquire Abrams tanks enables Romania’s land forces to replace some of their outdated Soviet-era tanks. Integration of the U.S.-made tanks would also increase Romanian forces’ interoperability with its Western allies.

Under the increasing pressure from its allies and the changing security situation of the region due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Romania is also among those Eastern European countries which as rapidly evaluating their defense strategy and upgrading their arsenals. Romania shares a 400-mile-long border with Ukraine.

Romania’s military procurement trends closely follow that of Poland. If the Abrams tanks deal goes through, Romania could become the second operator of a U.S.-made tank in Eastern Europe after Poland. The Polish government signed a $4.75 billion deal with the U.S. to acquire 250 M1A2 Abrams tanks in April 2022, while making a second order of $1.4 billion for 116 Abrams tanks in January this year.

*^{U.S. Army Abrams main battle tanks. (Image Credit: Mindaugas Kulbis/AP)}*

Romania is also working on several other multi-billion-dollar procurement projects, including plans to buy new armored vehicles, missile systems, warships, 155-mm howitzers, and the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, becoming the third Eastern European country, after Poland and the Czech Republic, to operate fifth-generation fighter jets. Romania as well as several other European countries have put their military modernization efforts into faster gear, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Romanian air force currently operates 17 units of F-16 fighter jets that it acquired from Portugal. Last year, the Romanian government signed a deal with Norway to purchase 32 second-hand F-16 fighter jets. In April this year, the Romanian Ministry of Defense awarded a $321 million contract to Turkish drone manufacturer, Baykar Technologies, for the procurement of 18 Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Romania had been exploring options for combat drones since August last year. Romania will become the second EU country, after Poland, to operate TB2 and the third European NATO member to order them from Turkey.