Poland is set to have more tanks by 2030 than the UK, Germany, France and Italy combined after signing a deal to buy another 180 Korean K2 tanks.
The deal is worth more than 6 billion euros, and is the latest phase of Poland’s military expansion, motivated primarily by wars in neighbouring Ukraine and the ongoing crisis at the Belarusian border since 2021.
Poland currently spends 4.7% of its GDP on defense, spending the highest share of NATO countries in relative terms.
“(This is) a lot of things for the safety of our hometown and for the arms industry. The agreement begins the process of restoring tank production in our country,” wrote Deputy Prime Minister Władysławkosiniak-Kamysz, who wrote in the X post, and head of the Ministry of Defense.
Poland will have a total of 1,100 tanks upon completion of the transaction, including 61 tanks produced in Poland itself.
There are a total of 950 tanks in Germany, Italy, the UK and France. Only two NATO countries, Greece and Turkey, have more tanks than Poland after the transaction is completed.
Turkey currently has 2,238 tanks and 1,344 Greece.
Polish South Korea’s tank purchases began in 2022, and then Defense Minister Marius Bwashzak described them as “a favorable situation for both sides.”
In the past, Poland also bought K239 Chunmoo Rocket gun launchers, light FA-50 fighter jets, and automatic propellers from the K9 South Korea.
Poland also purchased Abramstank, Apache helicopter, Himmers Artillery and Patriot missile defense systems from the United States. Earlier this year, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses called Poland “Model NATO Ally” during his first official state visit.
In addition to 180 tanks, the new contract includes 81 support vehicles, logistics training, full-service and repair programs, and technology transfer clauses.
The signing of the contract coincided with the 81st anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, which the Minister of Defense mentioned during the signing ceremony. He thanked the participants in the uprising and those who lost their lives while fighting within it.
“It is in their memory, their heroism that they signed this agreement today,” Koshiniak Kamishis said.
“I am very proud of this contract and I am delighted to see that together we are building a strong, safe and prosperous Poland,” he concluded.
