Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Poland Seals $6.5 Billion Deal for Second Batch of K2 Tanks

Local assembly at Gliwice will revive Poland’s tank manufacturing capacity after 16 years under a record-setting technology transfer agreement with Seoul.

This photo, provided by Hyundai Rotem, shows Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaking during a contract signing ceremony to supply additional K2 tanks to Poland in Gliwice, southern Poland, on Aug. 1, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Courtesy Photo
This photo, provided by Hyundai Rotem, shows Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (2nd from L) and his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz (2nd from R), attending a contract signing ceremony to supply additional K2 tanks to Poland in Gliwice, southern Poland, on Aug. 1, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by the South Korean defense ministry, shows Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (2nd from L) and his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz (2nd from R), attending a signing ceremony to supply additional K2 tanks to Poland in Gliwice, southern Poland, on Aug. 1, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • Poland will obtain 180 K2 main battle tanks and 81 support vehicles under a $6.5 billion contract that allocates 117 units to Hyundai Rotem in South Korea and 63 to Poland’s PGZ for local assembly.
  • The K2PL variant will include reinforced armor, active protection systems and other NATO-compatible enhancements tailored to Polish operational requirements.
  • South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Polish counterpart Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz attended the August 1 signing in Gliwice, where they pledged joint training, logistics support and expanded cooperation.
  • The agreement represents the largest arms export contract ever won by a South Korean defense contractor and opens the door to joint development and future exports.
  • Resuming tank assembly at the Bumar-Łabędy plant marks Poland’s first domestic main battle tank production since 2009 and positions the country as a future European manufacturing hub.