Poland buys tanks and artillery from South Korea for nearly six billion dollars

Aug. 27 () –

Poland has signed this Friday the purchase of almost 400 battle tanks and howitzers to South Korea, because of the growing tensions in the European continent against Russia.

Seoul plans to deliver 180 K2 battle tanks by 2025, along with training, logistics and ammunition packages. It will also provide 212 K9 self-propelled howitzers, of which 24 will be delivered later this year. The latter will replace the weapons that Poland donated to Ukraine.

Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense Systems signed this agreement on Friday, the Defense Acquisition Program Management said in a statement on Saturday. The purchase would be valued at $5.8 billion.

The deal is part of a broad armaments program between the two nations signed earlier this year, under which South Korea will also supply FA-50 fighter jets. The deal for the aircraft to be supplied by Korea Aerospace Industries is expected to be signed around September.

“What we have achieved with our partner South Korea is impressive. We have achieved a lot in a short time. In this way, we strengthen Polish defense,” Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak celebrated in a message on his Twitter account.

For his part, Donghwan Eom, director of the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said that “this export is a good example” of how South Korean defense companies “have contributed greatly to the national economy.”