Romania is preparing a major overhaul of its armored fleet. In 2025, the government plans to launch procurement of 216 new-generation main battle tanks to replace its aging TR-85M1 Bizonul, a Romanian upgrade of the Soviet-era T-55.
Contenders include the Abrams, Leopard 2A8 and K2 Black Panther, according to Defense Romania.
A key condition of the deal, expected to begin this year, is local production in Romania — including tank hulls and sighting systems tied to weapons suites.
Commenting on the plan, Defense Express analysts suggested Romania’s TR-85s could end up in Ukraine via a “ring exchange,” though with caveats. If Bucharest opts for Germany’s Leopard 2A8, Berlin could partially finance the purchase or offer a discount — a mechanism similar to prior Ukraine aid schemes.
Such arrangements have upsides and downsides. For example, Slovenia provided M80A infantry fighting vehicles and M-55S tanks in exchange for German Marder IFVs, while the Czech Republic received Leopard 2A4s after sending T-72s to Ukraine. These precedents show the model is feasible, but the details hinge on negotiations, political will and competing interests.
Romania’s reserves are believed to hold roughly 377 tanks: about 220 T-55AMs, 103 TR-85s and 54 TR-85M1s. The plan is to replace part of the fleet — specifically 216 vehicles — with new models. Bucharest’s insistence on local production could make South Korea’s K2 more attractive from an industrial standpoint, though Germany could regain the initiative with additional incentives.
“To kill two birds with one stone, one could propose transferring tanks and other weapons from Romanian stocks to Ukraine. That would justify partial German financing or additional localization, while keeping Romania’s industry busy,” the analysts wrote.
Even if the deal goes through, it may not significantly strengthen Ukraine. The T-55 and TR-85 are outdated platforms better suited as bases for conversion into engineering vehicles, APCs or IFVs — all of which would require extra investment.
Moreover, the upgraded TR-85M1s would likely remain in Romania’s reserve, meaning Kyiv could receive older, less capable vehicles. For Bucharest, the swap would bring limited savings given the high cost and production timelines of the Leopard 2A8.
The odds of such an agreement remain modest for now. Still, as seen with Croatia and Slovenia, these initiatives can materialize if Berlin and Bucharest strike the right deal, experts said.
Romanian media have previously scrutinized what military aid the country has sent to Ukraine, with tanks among the most contentious issues amid questions over whether Kyiv actually received them from Bucharest.
