Romania Approved to Buy 54 M1A2 Abrams Tanks for $2.53B

The U.S. State Department has formally approved a $2.53 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Romania for the acquisition of M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks and related equipment.

This approval follows the delivery of the required certification by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to Congress.

Romania's request encompasses 54 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks, 54 M1A1 Structures, 4 M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery Vehicles, 4 M1110 Joint Assault Bridges, 4 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles, and 4 Heavy Assault Scissor Bridges (HASB). Additionally, the package includes 54 M240C 7.62mm machine guns, 10 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. Mine rollers, Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter (EHET) M1300 tractors, and various support vehicles and equipment are also part of the deal.

Key contractors involved in the execution of this FMS include General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems, Leonardo DRS, Honeywell Aerospace, Raytheon Company, Lockheed Martin, L3 Harris, American Apex Corporation, Allison Transmissions, Pearson Engineering, Amentum, CAE, Palomar, Boeing Company, Fibrotex, and US Ordnance. This collaborative effort reflects the multi-faceted nature of the deal, encompassing technical, engineering, and logistics services, as well as the supply of various equipment and support systems.

In May 2023, Romanian lawmakers granted approval for the defense ministry's request to purchase 54 used M1A2 Abrams tanks from the U.S., initially estimated to cost $1 billion.

The Romanian government, responding to Russia's attack against Ukraine, is expediting various procurement projects, including acquiring new armored vehicles, missile systems, warships, 155mm howitzers, and the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. If realized, Romania would be the second operator of the Abrams tank, following Poland's signing of a nearly $5 billion deal in 2022 for 250 tanks, with an additional order of 116 Abrams valued at $1.4 billion in January 2023.