On the YouTube channel "WoW - Wolski o Wojnie" on July 24, 2022, a conversation was published by the Polish defense analyst Jaroslaw Wolski with the press secretary of the Armaments Agency of the Ministry of National Defense of Poland, Lieutenant Colonel Krzysztof Platek, during which a lot of detailed information was reported about plans for the technical modernization of the Polish armed forces, and in particular the scope of framework agreements, which are planned to be signed by Poland (possibly as early as July 27) with South Korean companies for unprecedented purchases of South Korean-made weapons and equipment. A summary of the information reported in the conversation is provided by the online version of the Polish magazine "Dziennik Zbrojny".
K2 Black Panther Tank of the South Korean Army (c) Ministry of National Defense of South Korea
It is reported in the conversation that the main prerequisite for the activities of the Armaments Agency of the Ministry of National Defense of Poland related to the purchase of new military equipment is to fill the gaps that have arisen as a result of the transfer of military equipment to Ukraine from the resources of the Polish Army (including T-72 tanks and parts of RT-91 Twardy tanks, 155-mm Krab self-propelled howitzers, and others), by the end of 2025, and for the planned increase in the number of Polish armed forces.
Tanks
Poland's already announced acquisition of 116 used American M1A1 SA Abrams tanks (two battalion sets) should be completed in 2023-2024. South Korean tanks from the K2 Black Panther family in three variants should complement the Abrams tanks in the Polish armed forces:
K2 - 180 tanks of new production (three battalion sets) will be delivered from South Korea in 2022-2025 to replace the T-72 and RT-91 tanks transferred to Ukraine. After 2026, these K2 tanks should be upgraded to the K2PL version.
K2PL - 820 units (14 battalion sets) adapted to Polish requirements of K2 tanks, deliveries of which should begin in 2026. These tanks should be produced partly in South Korea, and partly at a new factory to be built in Poland. K2PL tanks must have reinforced armor, a circular view system, an active protection complex (KAZ) ASOR.
K3PL (symbol) is a new promising Polish-South Korean tank developed on the basis of the K2PL tank, which will be produced in Poland and South Korea.
Self - propelled artillery
The contract for the supply of four Regina divisional fire modules (kits) to the Polish Army, including 96 Krab 155-mm/52 self-propelled howitzers, concluded in December 2016, will be extended until about 2025 due to an additional order of divisional fire modules for delivery to Ukraine (the original planned completion date of the contract was 2024). In 2022, it is planned to sign a new contract for the supply of two more Regina divisional fire modules to the Polish Army, including 48 Krab self-propelled guns, with production in 2025-2026. Together with the order of Krab self-propelled guns for Ukraine [according to various sources, from 54 to 60 units], this will ensure full utilization of production capacities for the production of self-propelled guns of the Huta Stalowa Wola SA (HSW) plant. Production of the Krab self-propelled howitzer is expected to continue after 2026, until a new generation Polish-South Korean self-propelled howitzer is developed. The Krab self-propelled gun in the Polish armed Forces will be supplemented by South Korean self-propelled guns of 155-mm/52 caliber of the K9 family in three modifications:
K9A1 - 48 units (two divisional sets), mainly self-propelled guns of new production, which will be delivered from South Korea in 2022-2023 (including the first 18 already in 2022) to replace Krab self-propelled guns transferred to Ukraine. The acquired K9A1 self-propelled guns are planned to be equipped with the Polish TOPAZ automated artillery control system from the very beginning, and then it is planned to upgrade them to the K9PL version (after about 2026).
K9PL - 624 installations (26 divisional sets). This will be a "polonized" version of the K9A2 self-propelled gun, equipped with, among other things, the TOPAZ artillery automated control system. The first batches will probably be produced on the basis of the K9A1 ACS, and the next ones will be based on the K9A2 version. It is expected that deliveries of this version of the K9PL will begin in 2024, and it will be produced in South Korea. From 2026, the production of the K9PL ACS should begin at a new plant built in Poland. From now on, deliveries will be made from both Polish and South Korean production lines.
K9PLA3 - (symbol, new generation self-propelled gun, Krab 2), a new promising Polish-South Korean self-propelled howitzer, which should be developed on the basis of R&D planned to begin in 2025-2026, based on the experience of creating and operating the K9PL and Krab self-propelled howitzer. This version will be produced in Poland and South Korea.
Infantry fighting vehicles
The Borsuk machine being created in Poland will become the main infantry fighting vehicle (BMP) of the new generation in the Polish armed forces. The army's supply needs are determined at the level of over 1,000 vehicles (and even 1,400 units). Borsuk IFVs, as floating vehicles, should be used by mechanized battalions interacting with tank battalions equipped with Leopard 2A5/PL and K2/K2PL tanks. For mechanized battalions designed to interact with tank battalions equipped with M1 Abrams tanks, the possibility of acquiring South Korean heavy infantry fighting vehicles AS21 Redback in the long term is being considered (however, there will not be a contract for their purchase yet). There are no plans to acquire South Korean K21 floating infantry fighting vehicles. When purchasing the AS21 BMP, it is possible to use the Polish ZSSW-30 unmanned turret on them.
Wheeled armored personnel carriers
According to the information provided, the license for the production of Rosomak wheeled armored personnel carriers (Patria AMV) in Poland expires in 2023. In order to acquire its successor, in particular, negotiations are underway with South Korea on the possibility of obtaining a license for the production of wheeled armored personnel carriers developed by the South Korean industry in Poland.
Multiple launch rocket systems
Later this year, a new order is planned for the supply of additional 122-mm upgraded MLRS WR-40 Langusta. In addition, regardless of the request to the United States regarding the acquisition of 500 combat vehicles of the M142 HIMARS complex, negotiations are underway with South Korea on the possibility of acquiring the K239 Chunmoo MLRS under the Homar program. They can be partially an alternative to the M142 HIMARS combat vehicles, or both types of MLRS can be purchased, a total of 500 combat vehicles are planned to be purchased.
Combat aircraft
To ensure the replacement of Su-22 and MiG-29 aircraft in the Polish Air Force, it is planned to purchase 48 KAI FA-50PL light combat aircraft. This will be a modification of the FA-50 aircraft, similar to the FA-50 Block 20 version being developed by the South Korean corporation KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries), with an onboard radar with AFAR, an overhead electron-optical container Sniper, AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and Link 16 data transmission equipment. Only in the long term is it possible to integrate medium-range air-to-air missiles on this version of the FA-50 (for example, AIM-120 AMRAAM). All deliveries of FA-50 aircraft to Poland are scheduled to be completed in 2023, with 12 aircraft in the current FA-50 Block 10 modification being delivered first, and then 36 aircraft in the FA-50PL version. Upon completion of deliveries, the first 12 aircraft should be upgraded to the FA-50PL level. It is expected that by 2026 a training center with simulators and a service center will be built for them in Poland. Before the Polish side decided on the order, Polish pilots had already conducted evaluation test flights on FA-50 aircraft in South Korea.
Lieutenant Colonel Platek also mentioned that the Polish Ministry of National Defense is also interested in the possibility of acquiring a promising South Korean multifunctional fighter of the new generation KF-21 Boramae in the future. It is worth recalling that, regardless of the purchase of FA-50PL light combat aircraft, the Plan for the Technical Modernization of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021-2035 still includes the task of acquiring two more squadrons of multifunctional fighters.
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