South Korean arms companies: Hyundai Rotem Co., Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. and Hanwha Defense, are ready to conclude export deals with Poland worth 10 trillion won, or $7.7 billion, later this month, reports The Korea Economic Daily.

Hyundai Rotem is expected to sell 180 K2 Black Panther tanks worth 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) to Poland. The company, whose major shareholder is Korea’s leading carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. is also discussing the sale of 400 more battle tanks by 2030.

Korea Aerospace Industries is ready to export 48 FA-50 light fighters to Poland. Later this year, according to a Korean daily, the first 8 aircraft from a total of 20 units from the South Korean Air Force could reach Poland. The value of the contract would be around 3 trillion won (US$2.3 billion).

Finally, Hanwha Defense intends to sell 670 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to Poland for 4 trillion won (US$3.1 billion).

The Korean daily’s information was partially confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak in an interview with the weekly Network, who said that “we are buying South Korean weapons, and it will be 48 FA-50 fighter planes and at least 180 K2 tanks”.

In late May/early June this year, during a visit to Seoul, the head of the defence ministry said that Poland wishes to use Korean potential to replace post-Soviet equipment, which is still on the Polish Army’s equipment, with solutions compatible with US standard, and such equipment is produced by South Korea.

Adrian Andrzejewski