East Front News #52: New K2PL for Poland, billions for ammo

Polish MoD Reveals Details of K2PL MBT Contract

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz has disclosed the details of the contract for K2 and K2PL tanks and their accompanying support vehicles. The agreement negotiated with the Korean side is valued at USD 6.7 billion, approximately PLN 24 billion at the current exchange rate.

The deal covers 180 tanks, including over 60 in a „Polonized” variant, only three or four of which will be built in Korea, with the rest produced in Poland at the Bumar-Łabędy plant in Gliwice. It also includes a technology transfer, support and warranty elements, „the entire technical back‑end,” and more than 80 support vehicles for the K2 tanks.

Slovakia Interested in K2PL. Deputy Prime Minister Confirms

During a conference marking the end of negotiations on the contract for K2 and K2PL tanks, Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz announced that Slovakia is interested in purchasing K2PL tanks.

According to the minister, Slovakia has put other procurement plans and its bid‑evaluation process on hold in order to secure the option of acquiring the K2PL variant, which will be manufactured at Polish facilities. The agreement covering the purchase of K2PL vehicles thus paves the way for Slovakia to obtain these tanks. Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak‑Kamysz also said he discussed the matter with Slovakia’s defence minister at the NATO summit in The Hague.

Polish MoD on Orka: We Treat all Proposals Equally

The Ministry of Defence is getting ever closer to selecting the future supplier of a submarine for the Polish Navy. Asked about this issue by Defence24.pl, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda said at a press conference on the K2PL programme that this month the Ministry will review the latest proposals submitted to Poland (from Spain and France) and that a binding decision will only be made after those presentations.

„We treat all proposals with equal seriousness,” Paweł Bejda told us, emphasizing that it is important to him that the contract Poland signs be a government to government agreement.

Billions for Ammunition Production. "The Flywheel of the Economy"

The Ministry of State Assets and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa have signed four funding agreements for ammunition production at PGZ companies. They total PLN 2.4 billion, with the first funds to be disbursed this year.

Funding will go to four subsidiaries of PGZ. The largest share, PLN 1.358 billion, will be allocated to Dezamet for expanding its large‑caliber ammunition production capacity. Mesko will receive PLN 887.2 million to boost its capacity for manufacturing 155 mm shells; Nitro‑Chem will get PLN 113 million to purchase production lines for 155 mm large‑caliber ammunition; and ZPS Gamrat will obtain PLN 66.17 million to build facilities for producing base bleed systems (used in projectiles with ranges of approximately 40 km and beyond).

Lithuania Procures Polish MANPADS

The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has announced that, as part of the ongoing modernization of its armed forces, it has decided to purchase the Polish-made GROM MANPADS.

„Lithuania remains firmly committed to modernising its armed forces, with a strong focus on air defence. Our military stockpiles have been reinforced with GROM missiles under a €28M contract signed with Poland’s MESKO S.A.”, Lithuanian MoD stated via X.

Who will lead the future Polish National Security Bureau?

Professor Sławomir Cenckiewicz is to be the new head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), announced President‑Elect Karol Nawrocki.

„I have decided that the head of the BBN will be Professor Sławomir Cenckiewicz. Not only an outstanding intellectual and academic, but also the director of the Military Historical Bureau, and the author of many books on the operations of communist and Soviet intelligence services (…)” said President‑Elect Karol Nawrocki during a Thursday press briefing in Warsaw.

Polish industry resumes manufacturing of anti-personnel mines

According to a press release by Polska Grupa Militarna S.A., the company is ready to begin production of anti‑personnel mines.

The Management Board of Polska Grupa Militarna S.A. reports that its subsidiary, Zakłady Sprzętu Precyzyjnego Niewiadów sp. z o.o., has decided to restart and expand its capacity for large‑scale production of anti‑personnel mines. This decision follows the enactment in June 2025 of a law terminating Poland’s participation in the Ottawa Convention. We may recall that this treaty prohibits the use of anti‑personnel mines as a means of warfare, as well as their stockpiling, production, and transfer, and requires their destruction. Poland signed the treaty on 4 December 1997 but did not ratify it until 2012.

Polish Army Received Modern Radios

The first batch of COMP@N-Z radio stations manufactured by Radmor, a WB Group company, has been delivered to the Polish Armed Forces.

This is the second communications system in the history of Polish military radio communications to obtain cryptographic protection certification. The radio station, developed entirely by the WB Group, is approved for the protection of classified information with a Restricted classification. As emphasised by the manufacturer’s representatives, this is an important step towards increasing Poland’s technological sovereignty.

Poland and Germany: Effective Defensive Effort Only Through Collaboration? (OPINION)

Poland is the strongest NATO member on the Alliance’s Eastern flank, while Germany boasts the largest economy in NATO Europe. Both countries, however, are grappling with challenges in developing their defense capabilities. How do the Germans view Poland’s defence buildup?

We can read the opinion of Defence24’s deputy editor in chief in this text.

Light Helicopter for the Polish Armed Forces. Airbus Reveals the Details

Poland has recently announced that a combat-training helicopter is the first priority regarding the helicopter fleet. What is the offer of Airbus and how does it fit the requirements of Poland? Defence24’s editor-in-chief interview with Airbus Helicopters Executive Vice President.

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East Front News is a weekly newsletter and article on Defence24.com summarizing the past week’s most important events concerning security and the situation in the Central and Eastern Europe region. It includes original opinions and comments, along with key news items significant from a Polish perspective.

Jakub Palowski, Deputy Ed. in Chief and Michał Górski