Through a brief statement published on November 13, Polish Minister of Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that the Polish Armed Forces have received a total of 180 new K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea. The development follows the recent delivery of 20 units that will be assigned to the Polish Army’s 16th Mechanized Division, completing the number of vehicles planned under the first agreement reached between Warsaw and Seoul. This opens the way for the arrival of the units included under a second contract expected for next year.
It is worth recalling that a few months ago, the Polish Army announced the acquisition of an additional batch of 180 K2 Black Panther tanks to reinforce its cavalry units, taking advantage of its existing partnership with South Korea so that part of the production can take place in Polish territory. As reported in early August, 117 of these units will be manufactured by the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem, while the remaining 63 will be produced by the state-owned Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ). The deal is valued at 6.5 billion dollars.
Furthermore, the first tanks are expected to arrive from South Korea by 2027 configured to the K2GF standard, while the second batch, produced in Poland, will follow the K2PL standard from that date onward. This decision seeks to boost Poland’s domestic defense industry and aligns with the country’s long-term plan to position itself as a potential exporter of the model to third countries, an effort agreed upon with Seoul as part of the joint industrialization program.
The K2 Black Panther Tank
Reviewing the technical characteristics of the K2 Black Panther acquired by the Polish Armed Forces, it is worth recalling that these are main battle tanks weighing 55 tons, measuring 10.8 meters in length, 3.6 meters in width, and 2.4 meters in height—space sufficient for a crew of three. The tank can reach maximum speeds of up to 70 km/h on paved roads, reduced to around 50 km/h on more hostile terrain. In terms of range, it can cover distances of up to 450 kilometers—capabilities made possible by its 1,500 hp MT-833 diesel engine.
In terms of armament, the model is equipped with a 120 mm L/55 cannon, complemented by two machine guns of different calibers: a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on top of the turret. It is also known to feature an electric gun and turret drive system, along with two stabilized sights for the commander and gunner. Additional features include a thermal camera, a laser rangefinder, and inertial navigation and GPS systems.
Regarding protection, the design incorporates composite and reactive armor, with a dedicated protection panel for the ammunition compartment. This is reinforced by a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system to keep the crew safe in contaminated environments. The tank is also equipped with a fire suppression system and smoke grenade launchers to help conceal its position—capabilities that will soon be enhanced with the incorporation of Trophy APS systems produced by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which are already in service on Merkava, Challenger, and Leopard 2 tanks.
On the Modernization of the Polish Armed Forces
It is also useful to recall that the Polish Armed Forces are not only incorporating the aforementioned tanks as part of their modernization efforts, but are also engaged in a much broader chain of acquisitions. As illustrative examples, the Polish Army is on track to complete its fleet of AH-64D helicopters leased from the United States—a step that precedes the formation of a larger fleet composed of 96 AH-64E units.
Additionally, underscoring its strong defense ties with South Korea, Warsaw has secured a contract that will enable the production of 1,266 Legwan 4×4 tactical vehicles, whose design is based on the South Korean KIA Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) platform. As with the K2 Black Panther, PGZ will serve as the industrial partner for production, with deliveries expected through 2035.
In the air domain, Poland is also focused on incorporating its new fleet of F-35 “Husarz” stealth fighters, named after the country’s once-fearsome cavalry units. Earlier this month, the Polish Air Force announced that it already has a group of seven aircraft deployed in the United States, where future pilots and maintenance crews will undergo training at Eglin Air Force Base and the Ebbing Air National Guard Base.
Finally, among other procurement processes, it is important to mention that Poland has taken the first steps toward the construction of new Scorpène-class attack submarines in cooperation with the French company Naval Group. With an agreement that also involves the local defense industrial complex, the Polish Navy aims to replace and expand its naval capabilities, which currently rely solely on the ORP Orzeł submarine, in service since 1986. It became the only operational unit following the retirement of four Norwegian-built Kobben-class boats, making renewal urgent—especially at a time when the Baltic Sea has become an arena of heightened tensions with Russia.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
It is good to see Poland acquiring New Defense technologies to make sure, nations can not just roll over their Army and take over the country. It is also good to see them building tanks and maybe other vehicles.