Romania Welcomes US Approval of Potential Sale of 54 Abrams Battle Tanks

The Romanian Ministry of National Defence welcomes the notification of the US Congress sent on Thursday, November 9, regarding the sale to Romania of 54 Abrams M1A2 SEPV3 Main Battle Tanks, 12 tank chassis derivatives, ammunition and training simulators.

The combat vehicles that will enter the service of the Romanian Land Forces will be delivered in the most modern version of this model, which currently equips the US Army. The estimated value of the contract amounts to 1.07 billion dollars, in accordance with the prior approval of the Romanian Parliament. According to the American legislation, the US Congress was notified of a higher initial value of approximately $2.5 billion dollars. After approval by the Congress, the Governments of Romania and of the United States will sign the LoA (Letter of Acceptance) -type contract, the purchase by the Romanian side following to be made at the value estimated and approved by the Romanian Parliament. For the security of supply, the MoND will involve the relevant national industry for the provision of integrated logistic support.

In this context, the Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvăr, emphasized that beginning running the Abrams Program represents not only a major opportunity for the Romanian Land Forces, which will have state-of-the-art combat equipment, adapted to the challenges of the regional security environment, but demonstrates, as concretely as possible, the soundness and excellent level of cooperation between Romania and the United States, especially in the military field.

"The Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States represents one of the pillars on which our national security resides and essentially contributes to the strengthening of the defence of the allied eastern flank in the Black Sea region. The already on-going procurement programs -Patriot Surface-to-Air and HIMARS Surface-to-Surface Missile Systems, Piranha V Armored Personnel Carriers, F-16 Multirole Aircraft – the NSM Coastal Batteries to be delivered in the near future, as well as the prospect of procuring fifth generation aircraft -the F-35- for which Romania has already officially opted, represent the most important concrete dimensions of bilateral military cooperation, which convey our country a consolidated position in the region, from a strategic point of view, where we act as a pillar of NATO’s stability, and provides us strong interoperability anchors with our allies", Minister Tîlvăr stated.

Minister of National Defence also welcomed the latest deliveries of American combat equipment, the first 33 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) for the Special Operations Forces arriving in the country on Thursday, November 9, while today, November 10, the reception of the second Hercules C-130H aircraft takes place at the 90th Air Base Otopeni, after the transfer of the first aircraft of this type in September.