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Romania buys 54 Abrams tanks in use for 1 billion euros
Romania officially begins the purchase of American Abrams tanks, after the Commission for Defense, Public Order and National Security in the Chamber of Deputies approved the purchase.
Romania is negotiating the purchase of 54 used M1A2 Abrams tanks for its Armed Forces, a deal potentially worth $1.1 billion, according to official documents obtained by local news site DefenseRomania.ro.
The local media reported that the Commission for Defense, Public Order and National Security in Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, the parliament’s lower chamber, has approved the National Defence Ministry’s request to allow the purchase of American 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 purchasing 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The Abrams is expected to replace some of Romania’s outdated Soviet-era tanks.
The M1 Abrams tanks are combat proven and currently serve as the main battle tank of the U.S. Army. The export version is used by the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Poland and Iraq.
In reality, Romania approved an armament package worth €3.52 billion ($3.80 billion), according to local media. The defense committees of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved the start of negotiations by the Ministry of Defense for the purchase of two French-made state-of-art Scorpene submarines for €2 billion and 54 US-made modern Abrams tanks for €1 billion, said the Mainnews news outlet on Thursday.
Also, two British-made Sandown class minesweeper ships will be updated for €150 million in British shipyards, and 48 NSM-type advanced anti-ship missiles will be purchased from Norway for €375 million, it added.
The approval of these purchases requires a final vote in the plenary of the parliament which is expected to take place soon.