President Andrzej Duda took part in the ceremonial acceptance of newly purchased equipment for the Polish Army. The first delivery of South Korean armaments this year included K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers.

“It is not necessary to explain to anyone how important the pace of deliveries and modernisation of armaments is when we are facing a war in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression”, said Andrzej Duda. “We can all see one thing clearly – only the heroism of soldiers equipped with modern weaponry can stop Russian imperial ambitions and Russian brutality”.

President of the Republic of Poland reminded the public that in the spring of this year the Homeland Defence Act was adopted, in the summer of this year the necessary agreements were signed, and already now the process of strengthening the Polish army is being implemented, not only through the purchase, but even through the delivery of new military equipment. “To stop the enemy, it is essential for the army to have modern equipment”, added Andrzej Duda.

The offloading of equipment for the Polish army began in the port of Gdynia already on Monday evening. Contracts concluded so far provide for the delivery of 189 tanks and 212 cannon howitzers on a tracked chassis. The value of the contract with Hyundai Rotem for the K2 tanks amounted to USD 3.37 billion net; for the cannon howitzers from the Hanwha Defense group, Poland will pay USD 2.4 billion net.

The equipment acceptance ceremony at the Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak and Head of the National Security Office Jacek Siewiera.

The framework agreement provides for the acquisition of a total of 1,000 K2 tanks and its Polonised development version K2PL with associated vehicles, and a total of 672 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers and its Polonised development version K9PL, also with associated vehicles, a training and logistics package, ammunition stockpile and technical support.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński