Romania Plans to Purchase 216 New Tanks and Localize Their Production

Romania plans to purchase 216 new main battle tanks. The procurement procedure is to begin this year.

At the same time, the program includes the purchase of 76 auxiliary vehicles, including tractors and bridge pavers for armored vehicles.

According to the Romanian defense publication DefenseRomania, the authorities expect significant localization of equipment production in the country. This approach involves not only assembly but also production of key components in Romania.

This week, a request for approval of the procurement under the Main Battle Tank project was sent to the Parliament. The first phase of the program provides for the shipment of 54 Abrams tanks upgraded to the M1A2 SEP v3 variant, recently purchased from the United States.

The second phase involves the acquisition of 216 new vehicles; the expected value of the contract is approximately EUR 6.5 billion. The financial estimate includes both the machines themselves and the localization of production and personnel training.

Currently, the backbone of the Romanian tank force is the modernized TR-85M1 Bizonul, which provides basic combat training and operation of the units. However, future purchases should significantly upgrade the fleet.

A condition for the implementation of a large contract scheduled for this year is the local production of the final product in Romania. This applies to both serial assembly and production of individual units and components.

Most of the components, such as the armored tank hull and sighting equipment, including elements related to weapon systems, are expected to be manufactured in Romania. This approach is intended to strengthen the national industrial base.

The assembly, integration of components and subsystems, as well as final tests are planned to be carried out at Romanian production sites. At the same time, negotiations are underway on technology transfer and training of local specialists.

Previously, Romania discussed possible equipment options with several manufacturers, including Leopard 2 and the Korean K2 Panther, along with the American Abrams. Consideration of several solutions allows comparing technical characteristics and localization conditions.

In terms of technology transfer and local production conditions, the most open proposal was made by the Korean company Hyundai with the modern K2 Panther tank. This particular option was noted for its high level of planned industrial integration.

The announced steps are aimed at strengthening the country’s defense capabilities, modernizing the tank fleet, and reducing dependence on imported supplies in the long term. Final decisions will depend on parliamentary review and the terms of contracts with manufacturers.