Exclusive: South Korea plans K2 tank production hub in Poland for European market.

According to information published by the Polish television channel TVP World on August 21, 2025, and confirmed by South Korea’s Hankyoreh News, Hyundai Rotem plans to establish Poland as the European production and maintenance center for the K2 Black Panther main battle tank. This industrial shift follows the signing of a second executive contract between the Polish Ministry of National Defence and Hyundai Rotem, worth approximately $6.5 billion, significantly expanding the scope of the initial agreement signed in 2022.
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The K2 Black Panther is the cornerstone of Poland’s armored modernization, combining South Korean technology with domestic production to create a next-generation main battle tank tailored for NATO operations. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The new agreement covers the delivery of 180 additional South Korean K2 tanks, including the first 64 in the Polish K2PL main battle tank configuration designed for Poland’s operational requirements. Critically, the contract provides for a full transfer of production, assembly, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) technologies to Poland. Only the first three K2PL tanks will be produced in South Korea. The remaining 61 tanks in the initial production batch will be assembled by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) through its subsidiary Bumar-Łabędy in Gliwice, which is being transformed into a regional armored vehicle production hub.

This second executive agreement builds on the 2022 framework deal, under which Poland originally signed for 180 K2 tanks manufactured in South Korea for expedited delivery. That first executive contract, valued at around $3.37 billion, focused on rapidly bolstering Poland’s armored capabilities in response to regional security threats. Deliveries under the initial contract began in late 2022, with more than 150 tanks operational in Polish armored brigades as of mid-2025. Full delivery of the initial 180 units is expected to conclude by the end of this year.

In total, the strategic framework between Seoul and Warsaw provides for the acquisition of up to 1,000 K2 main battle tanks, with the majority to be produced in Poland as K2PLs. These domestically built units will feature reinforced armor, advanced Polish communications and battlefield management systems, NATO-compliant interfaces, and adaptations for European terrain. Full-scale domestic production is scheduled to begin in 2026, with a target of completing the K2PL program by 2035.

Beyond increasing Poland’s firepower, the industrial cooperation with Hyundai Rotem positions Poland as the central logistical and manufacturing node for K2 tanks in Europe. By securing the transfer of critical production know-how and the development of a localized support infrastructure, Poland will not only be capable of producing new units but also supporting, maintaining, and potentially exporting future K2 variants within NATO and allied markets.

Developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, the K2 Black Panther is a fourth-generation main battle tank that combines advanced firepower, mobility, and protection. It is equipped with a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun, an autoloader, a high-performance powerpack, and active protection systems. The K2 is designed to operate in complex terrain and under electronic warfare conditions. The K2PL version adds reinforced armor, a remotely controlled weapon station, and Polish-made systems tailored for NATO interoperability and harsh Central European operational environments.

As of 2025, Poland remains the only confirmed European customer for the K2 Black Panther, with deliveries already underway and full-scale production scheduled to begin domestically. However, multiple other European nations have expressed interest or are considered future prospects. Norway evaluated the K2 during its main battle tank competition but ultimately selected the Leopard 2A7. Nonetheless, the K2 was shortlisted and considered a technologically advanced platform in several categories, raising Hyundai Rotem’s profile in the European market.

Romania, Slovakia, and Estonia have also been reported by regional defense media as countries closely observing the Polish program, particularly due to the possibility of joint procurement, interoperability, and cost-sharing for future K2PL variants built in Poland. Hyundai Rotem’s strategy to co-produce tanks in Europe through PGZ enhances the platform’s attractiveness to these potential buyers by offering quicker delivery timelines and EU-based lifecycle support.

With Poland serving as the central hub, Hyundai Rotem is now in a position to expand its footprint across NATO’s eastern flank and offer a modern alternative to legacy Western main battle tanks. If additional European customers emerge, future exports of the K2PL could be produced directly in Poland, consolidating its role as a strategic industrial partner and reinforcing the continent’s armored forces with one of the most advanced tank platforms currently available.