The Next NATO Tank Powerhouse Will Be in Russia's Backyard
Summary and Key Points: Romania aims to significantly bolster its tank force by acquiring 300 to 500 South Korean-made K2 Black Panther tanks, known for their advanced capabilities.
-This move follows Romania's earlier $1 billion deal to purchase M1 Abrams tanks from the U.S. and reflects a growing defense partnership with South Korea.
-Bucharest already has a sizable tank fleet but relies heavily on outdated Soviet-era models. The potential purchase, along with a forthcoming deal to acquire 32 F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the U.S. worth $6.5 billion, positions Romania as a burgeoning NATO tank powerhouse, enhancing its defense capabilities substantially.
Romania Strengthens Defense with Planned Purchase of K2 Black Panther and M1 Abrams Tanks
Romania could become the next NATO tank powerhouse. Bucharest this week made known it wants to bolster its tank force by the hundreds. Romania could follow the lead of Poland in looking to acquire the South Korean-made K2 Black Panther, which is considered one of the best main battle tanks in service today.
According to South Korea’s MBC News, Romania’s Defense Ministry is considering a purchase of 300 to 500 Black Panthers. According to the 2024 Global Firepower index, Romania already has a sizable tank force, with 377 in service – more than NATO allies France, Germany, or the United Kingdom. However, a significant number of the tanks are Soviet-era T-54/55 series, while the remainder are Romanian-made TR-580 and TR-85 tanks – domestic variants of the T-55.
Also like Poland, Romania is waiting to receive American-made M1 Abrams tanks. In November 2023, Romania announced a deal worth at least $1 billion to acquire roughly a battalion's-worth of Abrams from the United States.
The deal for the K2 Black Panthers has been in the works since 2022, when Bucharest signed a defense cooperation agreement with Hyundai Rotem (now Hanwha). That paved the way for future potential deals that are finally coming into focus.
Bucharest and Seoul have grown closer in recent years, with Romania purchasing a considerable amount of South Korean military equipment, including armored personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery systems.
In March 2024, Hanwha sent a K2 MBT to Romania for live-fire tests, and it now appears that was enough to help close the deal.
The K2 Black Panther was developed utilizing domestic South Korean technology, and the initial prototype was unveiled in 2007. Production of the first 100 K2 tanks began in 2014. It is considered one of the most advanced MBTs in the world, outclassing any tank in service with North Korea or China.
Romania is also close to signing a government-to-government agreement with the United States for the purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The deal, which has been on the table since last September, could be closed this fall. Bucharest has expressed interest in acquiring thirty-two F-35s in a deal worth $6.5 billion.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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