Washington on Thursday approved a $2.53 billion sale of tanks to Romania, a NATO ally and neighbor of war-torn Ukraine, the Pentagon’s official agency announced, citing AFP.

The amount of $2.53 billion disclosed by AFP is astonishing and does not compare to the contracts awarded by Romania, and the press agency does not specify clearly what Romania is buying with this amount.

The transaction “will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a NATO ally,” the Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which is responsible for foreign arms sales, said in a statement.

This will “improve Romania’s ability to counter current and future threats, providing a reliable force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations,” the statement continued.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States stepped up its aid and arms programs to Kyiv and its NATO allies.

The US State Department approved the sale to Romania and, as required by law, DSCA formally notified Congress on Thursday. Congress must now ratify the sale agreement.

SEE ALSO:

• Major military acquisitions are being prepared for the Romanian army: self-propelled howitzers, combat armor, anti-aircraft systems and missiles for F-16 aircraft

What we know for sure now

Romania will buy a battalion of Abrams tanks from the USA

Phase I of the grant program, which will begin in 2023, involves the purchase of 54 Abrams tanks upgraded to the M1A2 variant and 12 derivative tank chassis used by the US Army, including ammunition and training equipment. This phase will take place through a Government-to-Government agreement with the United States of America.

In March, HotNews.roscria reported that Romania would acquire a battalion of Abrams tanks under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with the United States, the information was confirmed by Major General Teodor Inchikas, head of the General Directorate of Armaments.

The tanks will be equipped with modern equipment according to the specifications required by the army, said the MoD official, who also explained why this particular type of tank was chosen.

Romania will acquire a battalion of Abrams tanks under a Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement with the United States, confirmed Major General Teodor Inchikas, head of the General Directorate of Armaments. The tanks will be equipped with modern equipment according to the specifications required by the army, said the MoD official, who also explained why this particular type of tank was chosen.

“These days we will send to the Parliament of Romania for the preliminary approval of the Parliament the purchases related to tracked howitzers. Also a tracked infantry fighting vehicle, short and very short range air defense systems, and two types of missiles for F-16 aircraft. At the same time, our request for approval of the purchase of a battalion of Abrams tanks is on the way to the preliminary approval of the parliament,” said Major General Teodor Inchikash, the head of the Main Directorate of Armaments, invited to the “Military Observer” podcast.

No. It is worth noting that in the current configuration of the army, a tank battalion will have 54 units, but there are still no details about exactly how many tanks we are talking about, which version of the Abrams, and at what price.

“Regarding this tank, it’s funny to me that everyone thinks: “Okay, I’m taking an old tank”, not knowing the American specifics of tank modernization. If we are talking about bringing a tank to the enterprise, completely cleaning it, processing it with a protection system and equipping it with new equipment according to the option we need,” said the official of the Ministry of Defense.

Why was the Abrams tank chosen? “Very simply. Because the General Staff of the Army believed that for the mission of the brigade, which it wants to reinforce with this type of tank, the Abrams is the best means and has a uniqueness in the execution of the missions,” Inchikas said.

It should be noted that General Dynamics already operates a joint venture in Romania through which it builds Piranha 5 armored personnel carriers in Bucharest, a combat vehicle for which turrets, guns, machine guns and mortars are already manufactured in Romania by other companies such as Elbit.

Specifications Abrams M1A2 SEP V3

Product: 1999 – to the present time

Length: 9.77 m

Width: 3.7 m

Height: 2.4 m

Full speed: 68 km/h (40 km/h off-road)

Motor: Honeywell AGT1500 multi-fuel turbine engine

Engine power: 1100 kW

Tank capacity: 1900 liters

Maximum autonomy: 425 km

weight: 66.8 tons

Main gun: 120-mm M256A1 (42 shells)

Additional weapons: 1 machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber, 2 machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber, one of which is installed coaxially with the main gun.

Crew4 (commander, gunner, charger, driver)

Combat armor for infantry

The procurement program “Tracked infantry fighting vehicle – BMP” provides for the purchase of 298 complete BMPs in the basic version and derivatives, including strategic and operational stock. MLI will be included in the equipment of motorized rifle structures of the Ground Forces.

The total cost of the endowment program is estimated at 2.99 billion euros.

The endowment program with corresponding payments will take place in two stages. Phase I contemplates the acquisition of 246 complete MLIs, including training simulators and initial logistical support. The stage will be started in 2023 and will last for 9 years, until 2031. The estimated value of contracts for the purchase of the I stage is 2.545 billion euros.

The second phase envisages the acquisition of 52 MLI kits for the strategic and operational stockpile starting in 2031. The estimated value of procurement contracts from this stage is 450 million euros.

155 mm self-propelled howitzers

Eternal program “Howitzer system “Kaval”. 155 mm battalion level” consists in the acquisition of 5 howitzer systems. 155 mm level Self-propelled battalion. Howitzers will be armed with five units of the battalion type of the Ground Forces.

The total value of the endowment program is estimated at $1.923 billion.

The endowment program with corresponding payments will take place in two stages. At the first stage, the acquisition of 3 self-propelled systems on tracked roads is considered, including ammunition, logistical support and special training equipment. The stage will start in 2023 and last 6 years, until 2028.

The estimated value of the procurement contracts is $1.158 billion. For the second stage, the acquisition of 2 self-propelled systems is considered, starting from 2028, the estimated cost of which will be more than 100 million euros.

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