Newsletters
South Korea completed a significant arms export agreement with Poland on Friday worth approximately $6.5 billion, marking the largest defense deal under President Lee Jae-myung's administration since he took office in June.
The contract, signed between South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem and Poland's armament agency, encompasses the delivery of 180 K2 main battle tanks along with 81 additional support vehicles, according to Seoul's Defense Ministry.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back witnessed the ceremony in the southern Polish city of Gliwice, formalizing an agreement that had been in development since 2022.
Under the deal's structure, Hyundai Rotem will produce 117 K2 tanks for direct export, while Poland's state-owned defense company PGZ will manufacture 63 K2PL tanks domestically under license. This arrangement reflects Poland's broader strategy to develop indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities while rapidly expanding its military inventory.
The agreement represents the latest phase of Poland's accelerated military modernization program, which gained urgency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Warsaw has positioned itself as one of Europe's most aggressive defense spenders, committing to increase military expenditure to over 4% of GDP.
Poland's defense procurement strategy has increasingly favored South Korean suppliers. In 2022, Warsaw signed multiple contracts with Seoul for K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and FA-50 light attack aircraft as part of a comprehensive military overhaul.
The K2 Black Panther tank, developed by Hyundai Rotem, features advanced fire control systems and is considered among the world's most sophisticated main battle tanks. The vehicle's selection by Poland underscores South Korea's growing prominence in the global arms market, particularly in Europe where nations are rapidly modernizing their militaries.
For South Korea, the deal comes as a major milestone in its defense export ambitions under the Lee administration, which has prioritized expanding the country's presence in international arms markets as both an economic opportunity and strategic partnership tool.
3 min read
