The estimated total cost of the programme would be €2.3 billion  

The US State Department has approved a potential sale of General Dynamics Land Systems’ M1A2 Abrams tanks and related equipment to the Romanian government for an estimated cost of €2.3 billion ($2.53).

The announcement was made on 9 November by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which also said it notified Congress of this possible sale. The Romanian National Defence Ministry’s request to buy 54 used M1A2 Abrams tanks from the US was approved by the country’s lawmakers in May 2023.

More in detail, the Romanian government requested to buy 54 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks, 54 M1A1 structures, four M88A2 Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles, four M1110 Joint Assault Bridges, four M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles and four Heavy Assault Scissor Bridges.

In addition, the order would include 54 M240C 7.62mm machine guns, ten AGT1500 Gas Turbine engines, 5,940 120mm M1147 High Explosive, Multipurpose, Tracer (HEMP-T) cartridges and 4,230 120mm M1002 Target Practice Multipurpose, Tracer (TPMP-T) cartridges. In addition, Romania asked for a wide range of support equipment, from mine rollers to trailer-mounted generators and GPS receivers, training and spare parts, among others.

Besides General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, the main contractors would be Leonardo DRS, BAE Systems, Raytheon Company, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell Aerospace, L3 Harris, Pearson Engineering, Boeing, and many others.

According to the press release, the proposed sale of 54 Abrams tanks and related equipment to Romania “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO Ally which is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe.” In addition, it would “improve Romania’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. Romania will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”

Romanian Defence minister Angel Tîlvăr commented: “The Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States represents one of the pillars on which national security rests and essentially contributes to strengthening the defence of the allied eastern flank in the Black Sea region.”

Following Congress’ approval, the Romanian and the US governments will sign the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) contract, and the acquisition will be made at the value estimated and approved by the Romanian Parliament.