Romania on May 16 announced it will officially start the purchase procedure of 54 modernized M1A2 Abrams tanks, after the Commission for Defense, Public Order and National Security in the Chamber of Deputies approved the acquisition.
The Romanian Ministry of National Defense requested, at the beginning of April 2022, the Parliament leadership for the prior approval for the purchase of 54 modernized Abrams tanks: “We request the prior approval of the Parliament for the initiation of the procedure for awarding the contract related to the ‘Main Battle Tank’ endowment program, stage I. Stage I of the endowment program starting in 2023 involves the purchase of 54 modernized Abrams tanks in the M1A2 variant and 12 derivatives, in use, from the U.S. Army stock, including ammunition and training stimulators”, the request of the Ministry of National Defense states. The acquisition will begin this year.
The envisioned purchase of 54 tanks along with accompanying gear and services is estimated to be worth about 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion), according to local news site DefenseRomania.ro. A relevant bill to authorize the acquisition is expected to be adopted by the parliament shortly. Notice that Romania initially expressed its intention to purchase approximately 200 Abrams tanks.
Romania could become the second operator of the Abrams in Europe after the Polish government signed a deal worth some $4.75 billion to acquire 250 M1A2 Abrams in April 2022. Last January, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence placed a second order, valued at about $1.4 billion, to buy 116 used M1A1 Abrams from the United States.