US approves $2.53 Bn Foreign Military Sale of 54 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 tanks to Romania.

On November 9, 2023, the US State Department granted approval for a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Romania, valued at $2.53 billion. This potential military sale includes 54 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), 4 M88A2 Hercules recovery tanks, 4 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges, 4 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles, and associated equipment.
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The M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 (System Enhanced Package), introduced in October 2015, is an upgraded version of the M1A2 Abrams SEP V2 Main Battle Tank. (Picture source: US DoD)

The proposed sale to Romania encompasses a variety of military equipment, including 54 M1A2 Abrams SEP v3 MBTs, 54 M1A1 structures, 4 M88A2 Hercules Combat Recovery Vehicles, 4 M1074 Joint Assault Bridges (also designated as M1110), 4 M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles, and 4 Heavy Assault Scissor Bridges. Additionally, the package features 54 M240C 7.62mm machine guns, 10 AGT1500 gas turbine engines, and a significant quantity of ammunition, including 5,940 120mm M1147 High Explosive, Multipurpose, Tracer (HEMP-T) cartridges, and 4,230 120mm M1002 Target Practice Multipurpose, Tracer (TPMP-T) cartridges.

Combat equipment and military logistics are integral to the sale, encompassing mine rollers, Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter (EHET) M1300 tractors with M1302 trailers with B-Kit/Frag Kit, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) M978A4 with B-Kit/Frag Kit, Tank Rack Modules (TRM) M107A1 fuel trailers (2500 gal) with B-Kit/Frag Kit, HEMTT A4 M1120 Load Handling System (LHS) with B-Kit/Frag Kit, and M1076Al with a flat rack and B-Kit/Frag Kit.

The Foreign Military Sale also includes technical manuals, maintenance trainers, gunnery training systems, new equipment training, and various logistical and program support elements. This entails Field Service Representative (FSR) support, Contractor Logistics Support (CLS), Next Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS), logistics products, tank range upgrades, Intensive Management Office (IMO), Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO), Program Management Reviews (PMR), and test measurement and diagnostic equipment.

On November 10, 2023, the Ministry of National Defense of Romania expressed its appreciation for the notification sent to the US Congress on November 9, 2023, regarding this Foreign Military Sale (FMS). The estimated contract value is approximately $1.07 billion, in accordance with prior approval from the Romanian Parliament. As per US law, the initial notification to Congress indicates a higher value of around $2.5 billion. Following Congress's approval, Romania and the United States will sign the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) contract, with Romania making the purchase at the value estimated and approved by its Parliament. To ensure a secure supply, the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) will engage the relevant national industry for integrated logistic support.

Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, noted that the integration into the Abrams program represents a significant opportunity for the Romanian Land Forces, providing them with modern combat capabilities tailored to regional security challenges. Minister Tîlvăr highlighted the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States as a fundamental aspect of national security, contributing to the defense of the allied eastern flank in the Black Sea region. Ongoing programs include Patriot surface-to-air and HIMARS surface-to-surface missile systems, Piranha V armored personnel carriers, F-16 multirole aircraft, NSM coastal batteries, and the potential acquisition of 5th-generation aircraft like the F-35.

The M1A2 Abrams SEP v3 (System Enhanced Package), also known as M1A2C, introduced in October 2015, is an upgraded version of the M1A2 Abrams SEP v2 Main Battle Tank that benefits from improvements in survivability, maintainability, efficiency, and network capability. The tank's enhanced lethality is a result of developmental upgrades and the integration of mature technologies, including the Ammunition DataLink (ADL), improved 120mm ammunition, Improved Forward-Looking Infrared (IFLIR), and the low-profile (LP) Common Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS).

Armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and a Low Profile (LP) CROWS armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun, the M1A2 SEP v3 can fire various types of rounds, including the M829E4 fifth-generation kinetic-energy anti-tank round, which uses a depleted-uranium penetrator, and the advanced multi-purpose (AMP) round is a line-of-sight munition with three modes of operation, enhancing its global effectiveness against heavily armored targets.

The tank features a new armor package within the turret and hull to address various threats, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), an optional Trophy Active Protection System (APS) from the Israeli company Rafael, along with all the equipment and combat systems of the M1A2 SEP v2 variant. Powered by a Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine, the M1A2 SEP v3 can achieve a top speed of 68 km/h. Technological enhancements, such as the Ammunition DataLink (ADL), under-armor generator power unit, and Improved Forward-Looking Infrared (IFLIR), contribute to the tank's overall capabilities, making it a notable asset in diverse operational conditions.