Seoul, Korea
CNN
–
Poland has concluded its contract to acquire a second batch of 180 Korean tanks under the 2022 contract.
The contract highlights Poland’s emergence as a European military force and South Korea’s position as a major arms supplier, particularly as an American stockpile for US allies around the world.
As Russia intensifies its attack on Ukraine, some of it comes within 100 miles of Polish territory on Ukraine’s western border.
Warsaw has increased its defensive spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, helping Kiev defend it while acquiring new weapons.
As a member of NATO, bordering Ukraine, we will see some of the alliance’s primary line of defense if Russian leader Vladimir Putin decides to extend the invasion beyond Ukraine.
Poland’s Ministry of Defense announced a tank deal that still needs to be officially signed in a post on social media platform X earlier this month.
The price will reach $6.7 billion and it says it will include 80 support vehicles, ammunition, logistics and training packages for the Polish Army.
The contract for the K2 Main Battle Tank, considered the world’s most powerful K2 main battle tank, includes units in Korea where the establishment of the Polish production line for the Korean Hyundai Rotem and Polish variants will take place in Korea, according to the Korean Defense Gaining Program Management (DAPA).
A Polish Ministry of Defense post on the X states that 60 batches of 180 tanks will be constructed in Poland. The first 30 Korean-made tanks included in the new contract are expected to arrive in Poland next year, he said.
In 2022, both countries signed a contract with Poland to win 180 k2s. All but about 45 people have been delivered, with the rest expected to arrive in Poland by the end of the year, Hyundai Rotem said.
That framework was considered South Korea’s largest overseas defense contract. The Polish Ministry of Defense said at the time it included a total of 980 K2S, 648 self-propeller K9 armored guns and 48 FA-50 fighter jets.
The ministry said armored vehicles will replace Soviet-era tanks that Poland donated to Ukraine for use in the battle with Russia.
A March report from the Washington, D.C.-based Wilson Centre said Poland gave Ukraine more than 300 tanks and 350 infantry combat vehicles and armored personnel.
Poland has recently gained the advantage after Russia has stepped up its drone attacks on Ukraine.
The Russian drone barrage of drone against the Rusk city in northwestern Ukraine was very violent, with Warsaw scrambling fighter jets as a precaution. Rootsk is approximately 50 miles from the Polish border.
The NATO report in April cited Poland’s efforts to dramatically increase defensive spending in the face of Russian threats. According to the report, Warsaw’s defensive spending rose from 2.7% of GDP in 2022 to 4.7% expected in 2025.
“Of all NATO allies, we spend the highest percentage of GDP on defense,” the NATO report said.
It noted that Poland purchased South Korean weapons to quickly fill the gap left by donations to Ukraine.
A report by the Wilson Centre said Poland “has emerged as Europe’s most capable military force.”
However, a May report from Rand Corp think tank expressed caution regarding funding for Polish arm accumulation.
Many of the purchases are “funded through direct loans from the countries that supply the equipment,” Rand said, adding that “if it is proven impossible to secure such a loan, market funding may be too expensive to turn the framework agreement into a binding agreement.”
Rand also said Poland is facing recruitment challenges and needs to increase the strength of its military by almost 50% over the next decade.
Meanwhile, South Korea has emerged as the 10th largest arms exporter in the world in the past five years, according to Stockholm International Peace Institute.
Meanwhile, Poland received 46% of South Korea’s military exports, with the Philippines receiving 14% and India receiving the Philippines at 7%, according to Sipri’s international arms transfer trends 2024 report.
When the war in Ukraine was dragged out, US aid to Ukraine and Israel discharged weapons stockpiling, similar to the Israeli war in Gaza. Therefore, a 2024 report from the DC-based Stimson Center shows that South Korea is considered an option for US allies that require weapons.
And Seoul’s arms industry may become important for Washington in the future, the report said.
“The increase in South Korea’s defense industrial base capacity, particularly in weapons and shipbuilding, could directly support the United States,” the report said.
Shipbuilding is considered a specific region of South Korea’s military industrial power, and Washington has already seen a contract to maintain US Navy supply ships to the Korean Yard, with the Navy working on the backlog at US shipyards.
In addition to the K2 tank, South Korea sent 174 K9 how shellguns to Poland under the 2022 framework, leaving 38 people delivered.
Hanwha said the second tranche of the 152 K9 is in work.
According to the manufacturer, Korea Aerospace Industry, of the 48 FA-50 jets ordered, only 12 have been sent so far.
