Romania’s Tank Dilemma: Importation or Self-Sufficiency?

Other notable Romanian arms deals in the works include a recent $410 million deal to procure seven Watchkeeper X unmanned combat air vehicles an armed drone based on the Israeli Hermes 450, which will lead to an assembly line opening in Romania and procurement of license-built Piranha-5 armored vehicles.

A Tank Battle for the Future of Army Firepower.

has thousands of M1s in storage, the annual capacity to refurbish these into modern vehicles remains low as heavy tanks were increasingly regarded as Cold War dinosaurs. It will take years before any tanks are delivered, however, between 31 tanks promised to Ukraine, Poland’s in-progress deliveries, and Taiwan, which is anxiously awaiting 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks. But Polish investments in M1 training, logistics, and maintenance could substantially ease service-entry costs for Romania. The total of $6.15 billion reflects the steep additional overhead costs to introducing the new type into service, and suggest a price hovering around or below the $1 billion mark for Romania. Neighboring Poland spent $4.75 billion for an order of 250 new M1A2s, followed by $1.4 billion for 116 used M1A1s from the U.S. Undoubtedly, the Abrams battalion will be expensive. Romania’s military modernization will complement an expanded NATO defensive contingent in Romania, including a rotating multi-national battlegroup under French command, supplementing elements of the 2 nd Armored Cavalry regiment equipped with Stryker armored vehicles and a 4,000-strong brigade of the 101 st Airborne Division.

Can the M1 Abrams Tank Still Outgun Russia’s Best?.

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