The deal sees Poland gain the ability to produce K2 tanks domestically. 

Poland has ordered an additional 180 K2 tracked main battle tanks from Hyundai Rotem following months of negotiations.  

Alongside the K2 tanks, Poland will receive 81 support vehicles and a complete logistical package, according to the Polish government on 1 August. 

The deal is widely reported to be worth USD6.5 billion (PLZ25.1 billion). 

This marks the second contract exercised as part of a broader framework agreement between Poland and the company for the acquisition of up to 1,000 K2 tanks. 

An initial batch of 180 K2 tanks produced in South Korea, known as the GF configuration, were acquired in 2022 as part of this, which also included acquiring K9 self-propelled howitzers. The deal was valued at USD5.8 billion.

Regarding this second batch, the first 116 K2GF tanks will be produced in South Korea, with deliveries due  between 2026 and 2027. 

Of the remaining 64 tanks – which will be of the K2PL configuration – the first three will be manufactured in South Korea, before production moves to Poland for the remaining 61. 

The K2PL tanks are set to be delivered between 2028 and 2030, led by the Polish manufacturer, Bumar-Łabędy, which is part of the Polish Armaments Group. 

This second tranche represents the first time Poland can produce K2 tanks domestically, with Hyundai Rotem providing Bumar-Łabędy with the “tools and production equipment to establish an assembly line”, according to the government. 

Dubbed the “Polonised version” by Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the K2PL will be manufactured at the company’s facility in Gliwice, a national hub for armoured vehicle manufacturing. 

DSEI Gateway understands that discussions over the number of tanks set to be produced in each country were a key part of the long-running negotiations on tranche two of the agreement. 

Regarding the deal, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence, Paweł Bejda, said that “various naysayers said: 'These negotiations are taking too long.' But this is the best-negotiated contract possible”. 

The Polish government had not responded to DSEI Gateway’s request for comment on when the third tranche might be expected, or whether it would see a greater shift towards domestic K2 production, at the time of publication.