South Korea could sign a deal with Poland for the sale of 800 K2 main battle tanks.

According to news published on January 17, 2020, on the “The Korea Times” website, the South Korean Company Hyundai Rotem could sign a deal with the Polish government to develop and produce 800 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks (MBTs).

K2 Black Panther main battle tank at DX Korea defense exhibition in South Korea. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The South Korean Defense Company Hyundai Rotem is planning to partner with the Polish government to develop and produce 800 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks (MBTs).

According to Hyundai Rotem, the official project could be announced in the first half of this year. The total project will be divided into two stages to produce a total of 800 main battle tanks.

According to previous reports, the Polish government partnered with Hyundai Rotem to produce next-generation tanks is scheduled to start in 2023. In 2016, Poland has already inked a deal with South Korea for the purchase of 120 K-9 self-propelled howitzers. Poland could be the first foreign customer for the K2 Black Panther MBT.

The K2 Black Panther is a new generation of main battle tank (MBT) designed, developed and manufactured in South Korea by the South Korean Company Hyundai Rotem. The K2 was unveiled for the first time to the public during the Defense Exhibition ADEX at the Seoul Airport in October 2009.

The main armament of the K2 Black Panther consists of a German-made Rheinmetall 120-mm/ L55 smoothbore gun produced under license in South Korea. The gun is fitted with an automatic loader which ensures the loading of projectiles on the move even when the vehicle moves on uneven surfaces. The 120mm gun can fire about 10 rounds per minute.

The layout of the K2 Black Panther MBT is conventional, with the driver's compartment at the front, fighting compartment in the center and engine and transmission at the rear. The armor on the Black Panther consists of an unknown type of composite armor and an Active Defense System utilizing Explosive Reactive Armor blocks.

The K2 Black Panther was previously motorized with an MT 833 diesel engine from Tognum, but the latest version of the tank is now fitted with a license-built German MTU 883 diesel engine and Renk transmission system. The K2 can run at a maximum speed 70 km/h on surface roads while being able to maintain speeds up to 48 km/h on off-road conditions.