Poland has signed a major defense agreement with South Korean firm Hyundai Rotem for the purchase of 180 K2 Black Panther tanks, in a deal valued at approximately $6.5 billion.
According to Polish media, 117 of the tanks will be manufactured in South Korea, while the remaining 63 – an upgraded version dubbed the K2 PL – will be produced domestically by the state-owned company PGZ. The contract also includes 81 support vehicles, a training and logistics package, and technology transfer arrangements.
This move is part of Warsaw’s broader strategy to significantly bolster its military capabilities. By 2030, Poland aims to field over 1,100 modern tanks, including Abrams and Leopard models—surpassing the combined tank fleets of the UK, Germany, France, and Italy.
The new contract follows a previous agreement signed in 2022, also for 180 K2 tanks, which are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2025. As of March 2025, Poland had already received around 110 tanks, according to Reuters.
For South Korea, this represents the largest defense export deal in its history, solidifying its growing role in the global arms industry.
