South Korea, Poland finalise $6 billion deal for 180 K2 tanks

South Korea and Poland have concluded negotiations for a significant new export contract involving additional K2 tanks, the South’s state arms procurement agency confirmed on Wednesday.

This deal is set to become the first major arms agreement under South Korea’s new government once officially signed, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and representatives from Hyundai Rotem Co., the manufacturer of the K2 tanks, have finalised their discussions and are preparing for an official signing ceremony featuring senior officials from both countries, according to the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

While the exact contract value remains undisclosed, sources estimate the deal to be worth more than US$6 billion and cover the delivery of 180 K2 tanks. If confirmed, this will be South Korea’s largest single arms export contract to date.

This agreement builds upon Poland’s earlier purchases of South Korean defence equipment in 2022, which included K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and FA-50 light attack aircraft. Those acquisitions formed part of Poland’s increased defence spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Hyundai Rotem previously secured a contract worth around 4.5 trillion won (approximately US$3.3 billion) to supply an initial batch of 180 K2 tanks to Poland.

DAPA explained that the follow-up deal experienced delays due to negotiations over broader aspects, including the development of the K2PL — a Polish variant of the K2 tank — and establishing local production capabilities.

Under the new agreement, Poland is expected to receive 117 tanks manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, with the remaining 63 K2PL tanks to be produced domestically by Warsaw’s state-owned company PGZ.

DAPA noted that setting up a local manufacturing base in Poland increases the prospects of fulfilling a 2022 framework deal aiming to export up to 1,000 K2 tanks to Poland.

The agency also pointed out that the deal fits into the ReArm Europe plan, which supports upgrades tailored for partner nations and local manufacturing, potentially paving the way for further arms exports to other European countries and NATO allies.

"The 2nd K2 export agreement was an occasion to confirm the solid arms industry cooperation between South Korea and Poland," DAPA Minister Seok Jong-gun said, pledging efforts to help shore up Europe’s security with the K2 tanks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev