WARSAW, Nov 14: Poland has received the delivery of 180 K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea, Polish Minister of National Defense W?adys?aw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced, a move aimed at transforming its armed forces into one of Europe’s most powerful land forces.
“We are growing stronger. Another 20 K2 Black Panther tanks for the 16th Mechanized Division have just arrived in Poland, meaning we now have a full complement of 180 tanks under the first contract,” Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X. He added that Warsaw and Seoul will begin implementing the next contract, signed in August, in 2025.
The initial USD 6.7 billion contract, signed on August 1, 2022, covers 180 K2 Black Panther tanks. Kosiniak-Kamysz said, “The new units will be better equipped than the existing ones, and production will be launched next year. Between 2028 and 2030, we plan full-scale domestic production.”
Under the framework agreement, Poland can acquire up to 1,000 K2 tanks, which could become the mainstay of its land forces. The first 64 tanks were delivered in the K2PL configuration-a customized variant featuring enhanced armor, Polish-made battle management systems, and NATO-standard communications.
Of the latest order, 61 tanks will be produced domestically at the Bumar-?ab?dy plant in Gliwice, with serial production expected between 2026 and 2030.
The contract also includes 81 support vehicles, comprehensive logistics and training packages, and maintenance infrastructure.
A significant technology transfer provision allows Polish firms to take over parts of the tank’s production, maintenance, and future modernization, strengthening the domestic defense industry and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.
The delivery follows Poland’s second multi-billion-dollar deal with South Korean industrial and defense group Hyundai Rotem, reflecting Warsaw’s push to strengthen NATO-aligned defenses amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Poland, which borders Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, allocated 4.7 pc of its GDP to defense in 2025, with a plan to increase it to 5 percent in 2026. (UNI)
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