Poland Signs $6.5 Billion Contract With Hyundai Rotem for 180 K2 Tanks
Poland has signed a new major defense deal with South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem. The deal, estimated to be worth $6.5 billion, was signed on 1 August and covers the procurement of K2 Black Panther tanks. The contract covers 180 K2 main battle tanks (plus some 81 armored support vehicles) and was signed in the presence of both Polish and South Korean defense ministers in Gliwice. It follows Poland’s 2022 order for 180 K2s and comes amid a broader arms buildup on NATO’s eastern flank. The new deal also includes training, logistics, and repair packages, underlining its scope beyond just tanks.
The agreement, which was first announced back in March, will see the K2s will be delivered between 2026 and 2030. Poland will receive 116 tanks in the existing K2 “K2GF” configuration (built in South Korea) and 64 upgraded “K2PL” variants tailored for Polish needs. After the first three K2PLs are built abroad, the remaining 61 will be produced in Poland at the Bumar-Łabędy plant in Gliwice. Polish officials expect full domestic production by 2028–2030, indicating a clear technology transfer and a push to expand the local defense industry.
The K2 Black Panther itself is a cutting-edge 55‑ton main battle tank. It mounts a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun (with an autoloader capable of ~10 rounds per minute), plus a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm roof‑mounted heavy machine gun. A 1,500-hp diesel engine and automatic transmission provide high mobility (up to 70 km/h), along with an “In-arm Suspension Unit” that can adjust hull height for improved off-road performance. The advanced digital fire-control suite (with thermal imaging and a ballistic computer) enables hunter-killer target acquisition and firing on the move. The Polish K2PLs add even more: enhanced armor packages, integrated battlefield networking, and a 12.7mm remote weapon station on the turret, as well as anti-drone sensors and other upgrades.
Strategically, this deal solidifies Poland’s emergence as NATO’s hub for heavy armor, with Poland’s first K2 battalion standing up in March 2024. With Ukraine under attack by Russia, Warsaw has aggressively modernized its army, allocating nearly 4.7% of GDP to defense in 2025 (rising to 5% in 2026). The expanded K2 fleet (on top of dozens of U.S. Abrams and Polish PT‑91 upgrades)will form Europe’s largest tank force. The Hyundai Rotem contract provides advanced firepower to Poland’s army while strengthening a strategic Korean-Polish partnership and enhancing the local defense industry.