Romania Relaunches USD 8 Billion Abrams Tank Program to Bolster Land Forces
Romania has officially resumed a major defense procurement program valued at over USD 8 billion, aimed at acquiring U.S.-made Abrams main battle tanks.
Bucharest, September 30, 2025 — Romania has officially resumed a major defense procurement program valued at over USD 8 billion, aimed at acquiring U.S.-made Abrams main battle tanks and a wide range of supporting vehicles, simulators, and training systems, according to documents cited by Profit.ro.
The large-scale modernization initiative, first launched in 2023, is part of Bucharest’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its land forces amid growing regional security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Phase 1: Initial Abrams Acquisition
In the first phase of the program, the Romanian Army approved the purchase of:
- 54 modernized Abrams tanks,
- 12 support vehicles, including 4 recovery tractors, 4 mobile assault bridges, and 4 mine plows,
sourced from existing U.S. Army stocks.
The initial deal, worth USD 1 billion, is expected to see deliveries completed by 2028.
Phase 2: Major Expansion
Romania’s Ministry of National Defense (MApN) has now requested Parliamentary approval for:
- Phase 2 of Stage 1, and
- Stage 2 of the broader endowment plan.
The new stages will include:
- 216 additional Abrams tanks,
- 76 derivatives (16 recovery tractors, 44 mobile assault bridges, 16 mine plows),
- logistics support, and
- training and simulation equipment.
The total value of this expansion is estimated at USD 7.54 billion plus VAT, bringing the combined value of all phases to over USD 8 billion.
