On Tuesday 6 December, the first Korean K2 tanks and K9 howitzers for the Polish armed forces will arrive in the port of Gdynia. Polish President Andrzej Duda and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak will participate in the reception of the Korean equipment.

The delivery of the tanks and cannon howitzers is the implementation of the arms contracts concluded with South Korea in 2022. A few days ago, Minister Blaszczak said that its implementation would begin later this year. Meanwhile, deliveries of Korean FA-50 aircraft and Chunmoo multi-launcher rocket systems will begin next year.

The Ministry of Defence recalled that the Polish Army has been consistently strengthening capabilities with Korean defence technologies.

In July this year, a framework agreement was concluded with Hyundai Rotem for the acquisition of a total of 1,000 K2 tanks and its Polonised development version K2PL, together with associated vehicles, i.e. technical protection vehicles, engineering support vehicles, bridges and other elements based on Polish solutions, as well as a training and logistics package, a stock of ammunition and technical support from the manufacturer.

The framework agreement concluded with Hanwha Defense covers the acquisition of a total of 672 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers and its Polonised development version K9PL, together with accompanying vehicles, as well as a training and logistics package, a stock of ammunition and the manufacturer’s technical support.

“At the end of August this year, executive agreements were concluded for the procurement of the first 180 K2 tanks in 2022-25 and 212 K9 self-propelled howitzers in 2022-26 from the Koreans”, highlights the Ministry of Defence.

Adrian Andrzejewski