Romania to buy hundreds of Abrams tanks from US for billions

The Romanian Ministry of Defense has appealed to the country's parliament for approval to request military equipment worth billions of dollars from the United States, according to a post on the ministry's official website.
It is noted that the purchase of American military equipment is planned within the framework of the Main Battle Tank program.
Initially, the Romanian Ministry plans to acquire from the United States additional equipment worth over $ 458 million for a tank battalion equipped with the Abrams M1A2 tank.
The second stage envisions Romania purchasing 216 Abrams tanks for nearly $ 6.5 billion to equip the country's tank and infantry units. This amount also includes the acquisition of logistical support and special equipment for training and exercises.
At the same time, Romania's defense ministry plans to establish technological and industrial cooperation for the production and maintenance of the tanks and their subsystems directly in the country.
Romania has developed a methodology for implementing the law on responding to hostile drones and aircraft in the event they violate the country's airspace.
Romanian Minister of National Defense Ionuț Moșteanu stated that the procedure involves the following main steps: identification, jamming, and intervention.
Romanian Air Force fighters recently intercepted a Russian drone in the country's airspace. The hostile drone traveled approximately 20 kilometers, accompanied by two F-16 aircraft.