Poland to begin production of first K2PL tanks as part of new agreement with South Korea.

On August 1, 2025, the Polish Ministry of National Defence signed an executive agreement for the acquisition of additional K2 main battle tanks, including the first batch of K2PL variants to be assembled within Poland. The ceremony took place at the Bumar-Łabędy facility in Gliwice and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Secretary of State Paweł Bejda, and South Korean Defence Minister Gyu-Back Ahn. The signing followed a bilateral meeting between both countries’ defence leaders at the AGAT military unit earlier that morning. The contract was signed by General Artur Kuptel, Director of the Armament Agency, and Yongbae Lee, President of Hyundai Rotem. The deal finalizes the second phase of a broader armament program that began in 2022 and falls under Poland’s Wilk modernisation initiative.
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This agreement builds on the July 27, 2022 framework between PGZ and Hyundai Rotem that foresees the delivery of 180 South Korea-built K2 tanks and the licensed production of 820 K2PL units in Poland. (Picture source: 9. Brygada Pancerna)

According to Polish defence officials, the value of the new contract is estimated at $6.7 billion, or approximately PLN 24 billion, though some open-source assessments mention a slightly reduced total of $6.5 billion following renegotiations earlier in 2025. This second tranche covers the procurement of 180 K2 tanks, over 60 of which are to be delivered in the Polish-modified K2PL configuration. Under the agreement, Hyundai Rotem will manufacture 117 tanks in South Korea, while at least 63 units will be assembled in Poland by PGZ at Bumar-Łabędy. This contract also includes the delivery of more than 80 auxiliary and support vehicles, logistics infrastructure, full technical support, and a transfer of production technologies to the Polish defense industry. Deliveries for the first 30 tanks of this new batch are scheduled to begin in 2026, and the Bumar-Łabędy facility is being upgraded to reach an annual output capacity of up to 50 K2PL tanks by 2028. This level of industrial readiness is aimed at sustaining long-term production and potentially exporting to regional partners.

The K2PL variant differs from the base K2 Black Panther in its adaptation to Polish operational requirements. It integrates reinforced modular composite armor, additional explosive reactive armor blocks, a hard-kill active protection system to intercept anti-tank guided missiles and drones, and an electronic warfare suite targeting UAV threats. It also includes a 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon station, a 360-degree panoramic awareness system, and NATO-standard digital communications. The tank preserves the CN08 120 mm smoothbore gun with an autoloader and the in-arm hydropneumatic suspension with six road wheels. Earlier Polish proposals to modify the chassis with a seventh road wheel and include a separate ammunition compartment were rejected due to the structural redesign that would have been required to the turret and hull. Additional features under consideration include integration of programmable ammunition already used by Poland’s Abrams tanks, which could enhance firepower standardization across the fleet.

This new contract builds directly on the July 27, 2022, framework agreement between PGZ and Hyundai Rotem, which outlined the delivery of 1,000 K2 family tanks in total. This includes 180 base-model K2 tanks manufactured in South Korea and 820 K2PL units to be built under license in Poland from 2026 to 2034. That agreement also included K9 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light fighter aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers as part of a broader defense modernization effort. Since July 2025, Hyundai Rotem has reallocated its entire production capacity to fulfill the Polish K2 contract, increasing its monthly output from an average of 3–4 units to over 10. This shift in production has resulted in a temporary pause in deliveries for the South Korean Army. In parallel, Poland is upgrading its Bumar-Łabędy plant to accommodate integration, assembly, and local fabrication of the K2PL variant and related support vehicles. This move is intended to support future export capacity. Slovakia has already expressed interest in acquiring K2PL tanks assembled in Poland, and additional joint programs involving the Turra 30-equipped Rosomak-L APC and joint production of 155 mm artillery ammunition have been discussed.

Poland began receiving K2 tanks in December 2022, starting with a batch of ten assigned to the 20th Mechanised Brigade. By March 2025, the Polish Armed Forces had taken delivery of approximately 110 tanks out of the initial 180 contracted under the 2022 deal. The remaining units are expected to arrive before the end of 2025. These vehicles have been distributed to the 15th and 9th Brigades of the 16th Mechanised Division, and several have been allocated to the Poznań Army Training Center for crew instruction. In May 2025, Poland carried out its first international deployment of the K2 during the multinational NATO exercise Slovak Shield 25. Tanks from the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade participated in maneuvers supported by the 16th Logistics Regiment. This event marked the first operational deployment of K2 tanks by a NATO member state outside of Korea and was intended to reinforce Poland’s role as a capable and interoperable member of the alliance. The exercise also served to demonstrate the K2’s mobility and logistical flexibility and provided an opportunity to promote the platform’s performance to potential buyers such as Slovakia and Romania.

The K2 Black Panther was initially developed in the mid-1990s by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development to replace older K1 tanks. The first prototypes appeared in 2007, with combat certification granted in 2008, and production beginning in 2013. The tank incorporates a 1,500 hp diesel engine, a fully digital fire control suite, and a range of defensive systems. These include laser and radar warning receivers, multispectral smoke launchers, and provisions for hard-kill active protection systems. The fire control system integrates thermal imaging, millimeter-band radar, and laser rangefinding, and enables automatic tracking and engagement of targets. The CN08 120 mm gun, assisted by an autoloader, is capable of firing conventional and guided munitions, including the Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition (KSTAM). The tank also features an adjustable suspension system that allows changes in posture and ground clearance for increased survivability and firing precision in diverse environments, including urban, mountainous, and river-crossing scenarios.

Export interest in the K2 and its variants continues to expand. Romania conducted live-fire trials with the K2 in 2024 and is reportedly considering the procurement of up to 300 tanks to complement or eventually replace its Abrams fleet. Other countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Armenia, and Slovakia have entered into preliminary discussions or field evaluations. Iraq has expressed interest in purchasing more than 200 units, while Slovakia is exploring a broader industrial partnership. The production of K2PL variants in Poland under license may allow Hyundai Rotem to serve additional export markets without requiring full domestic assembly. However, Hyundai Rotem’s current exclusive focus on the Polish contract may delay deliveries to the South Korean Army. The 150 K2 PIP units approved in 2023 as part of Batch IV may be postponed unless production capacity is expanded or divided. If Romania or other countries proceed with K2 acquisitions, annual production may need to exceed 60 units, potentially prompting the establishment of a second production line. The ongoing delivery of 180 K2 tanks and the start of local K2PL assembly in Poland remain the largest export programme ever conducted for South Korea’s land systems sector and will significantly influence armored vehicle production schedules into the next decade.