What's Going on with the K2 Tank Deal? Armament Agency Speaks Up

In the “Rzeczpospolita” article titled “Not Next Week and Not in Poland: Behind the Scenes of the Negotiations for the K2 Tank Purchase from Korea,” it was indicated that the second executive contract for K2 Black Panther tanks for the Polish Army would not be signed at the beginning of September, despite the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, declaring that it would be signed at the MSPO (International Defence Industry Exhibition). It was also noted that the vehicles would be produced in Korea, although the Minister of Defence wanted some of them to be produced in Poland. The article in “Rz” also mentioned that “plans for the manufacturing of these tanks in Poland are in question” and that funding for the second executive contract has not yet been secured.

The Armament Agency addressed the issue, stating in a release that “the currently negotiated second agreement for the purchase of another batch of K2 tanks, as well as their polonization and production in Poland, is not at risk”. The Agency also reiterated, “We do not tie the signing of any agreements to the calendar of trade events. We only tie them to the best-negotiated purchase terms.”

The Armament Agency also provided new details regarding the negotiated K2 tank agreement. Not only does the document cover the procurement of 180 MBTs, but also 81 support vehicles (likely including both armoured recovery vehicles and other support vehicles), as well as ammunition. This confirms information shared earlier by Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Bejda in an interview with Defence24.pl, stating that the prepared agreement also includes support vehicles for both K2 lots (the one purchased in 2022 and the one currently under negotiation).

The Armament Agency also stated that on August 9th, it entered the “final negotiation” with PGZ S.A. and Hyundai Rotem. The consortium, established at the beginning of July, consists of these two companies. Previously, the Poznań-based WZM S.A. [Military Automotive Works] also was a part of the consortium, but the agreement expired in June of this year.

The Polish Ministry of Defence still plans to purchase 1,000 K2 and K2PL tanks, with at least half being produced domestically.

K2PL tanks will also have additional capabilities, will be fully adapted to domestic requirements, and will be localized. Furthermore, capabilities will be established in the domestic industry to support the operation of the tanks and the support vehicles based on the K2 platform, throughout the lifecycle of these assets.