TSAMTO, July 28. According to the Polish Ministry of Defense Armaments Agency, framework agreements related to the acquisition of tanks, tracked self-propelled howitzers and light combat aircraft in the Republic of Korea were signed in Warsaw on July 27.
The documents were signed in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak.
On behalf of the State Treasury, the Arms Agency has signed agreements with three South Korean companies. Hyundai Rotem will be responsible for the supply of K2 tanks, Hanwha Defense – K9 family self–propelled howitzers, and Korean Aerospace Industries - FA-50 family aircraft.
As stated, the accepted method of concluding contracts is associated with the division of individual projects into stages, including a wide volume of technology transfer and the creation of industrial infrastructure in Poland. It will also optimize the purchase of military equipment, which is the subject of framework agreements, and, in particular, will quickly achieve, already at the first stage, the capabilities necessary for the Polish Armed Forces by supplying modern military equipment.
The conclusion of individual executive contracts will be carried out in a coordinated manner and taking into account the individual stages of the promotion of the projects being implemented. This will allow, in particular, to achieve a synergistic effect as a result of close cooperation of all participants in the implementation of programs, including the Polish Armed Forces and companies from Poland and South Korea.
Thus, the subject of the framework agreement concluded with Hyundai Rotem is the purchase of a total of 1,000 K2 tanks and a K2PL version adapted to the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces, along with related equipment, i.e. technical support vehicles, engineering vehicles, bridge-laying machines, training and logistics packages, ammunition and technical support from the manufacturer.
The training package includes training equipment and training of personnel in South Korea and Poland, including training on K2 tanks in cooperation with the Land Forces of the Republic of Korea. The contractor will also provide service support in Poland after the delivery of the first tanks. The agreement provides for the transfer of technologies, which will create a production infrastructure in the field of production of armored vehicles, at the first stage acquire competencies in the service sector and eventually launch the production of K2PL tanks with the participation of Polish subcontractors.
Deliveries of the first 180 K2 tanks are scheduled for 2022-2025. Delivery of the remaining 820 K2PL tanks will begin in 2026, with the start of their production in Poland in the same year. From 2026, it is also planned to upgrade the first 180 K2 tanks to the K2PL standard. In the longer term, it is planned to develop a new generation tank within the framework of Polish-South Korean cooperation.
K2 "Black Panther" is a South Korean main battle tank of the 3+ generation. Its main armament is a 120 mm smoothbore cannon with automatic loading, a paired 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm machine gun. The tank's advanced fire control system ensures high efficiency of hitting targets at long ranges. K2 can be additionally equipped with active protection systems such as "soft kill" (VIRSS) and "hard kill" (KAPS). The 1500 hp diesel engine and automatic transmission provide high speed and mobility in any terrain. The tank weighing 55 tons is equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension.
All contracted K2 tanks will be equipped with a communication system compatible with the one used in the Polish Armed Forces, as well as a combat control system compatible with the one installed on the ordered M1A2 Abrams tanks. The configuration changes envisaged for the K2PL version of the tank will include armor reinforcement, retrofitting with an omnidirectional surveillance system and an active ASOP protection system, the possibility of using programmable ammunition and a Polish 12.7 mm machine gun.
The subject of the framework agreement with Hanwha Defense is the acquisition of a total of 672 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers and its polonized version K9PL (based on ready-made technologies obtained as a result of work on K9A2 howitzers), as well as special equipment, including transport-loading vehicles (TZM) K10 and K11 control machines, training and logistics packages, ammunition and technical support of the manufacturer.
The training package includes training equipment and training of personnel in Poland. The contractor will also provide technical support in Poland from the moment of arrival of the first K9A1 self-propelled howitzers. The agreement provides for the transfer of technologies, as a result of which the existing production facilities in the field of barrel artillery will be preserved and expanded, which will allow at the first stage to acquire competencies in the service sector, and later the production of K9PL howitzers in Poland with the "polonization" of spare parts supply chains.
Deliveries of the first 48 K9A1 howitzers are scheduled for 2022-2023. Deliveries of 624 K9PL howitzers will begin in 2024. Their production in Poland should begin in 2026. From 2026, it is also planned to upgrade the first 48 K9A1 howitzers to the K9PL standard. In the longer term, it is planned to develop a self-propelled howitzer of a new generation within the framework of Polish-South Korean cooperation.
K9 "Thunder" is a South Korean tracked self-propelled howitzer. The main armament is a 155–mm 52-caliber cannon, which, depending on the type of ammunition, ensures the defeat of targets at ranges over 40 km. The weight of the howitzer is 47 tons . Auxiliary armament – 12.7 mm machine gun. The K9 armor provides protection from shell fragments and small arms fire. A 1000 hp diesel engine and an automatic transmission provide high speed and mobility on any terrain.
A number of improvements have been made in the K9A1 version. The main emphasis was placed on increasing the efficiency and firing range up to 54 km, improving situational awareness and improving the comfort of the crew. K9A2 is the latest version of the howitzer currently under development, which, as a result of using an automated loading system, will have an increased rate of fire (from 6-8 rounds / min. to 9-10 rounds / min.), reduced from 5 to 3 people calculation. The K9A2 howitzer will also be equipped with an electric turret drive (instead of an electrohydraulic drive), an automatic fire extinguishing system, a remotely controlled armament module, air conditioning, composite (rubber) tracks, enhanced ballistic and mine protection.
The K9A1 howitzers contracted as part of the first stage will initially be equipped with Polish communication systems, and will also be included in the TOPAZ combat control system.
The subject of the framework agreement concluded with Korean Aerospace Industries is the acquisition of a total of 48 FA-50 aircraft and their polonized version of the FA-50PL, along with training and logistics packages, ammunition and technical support from the manufacturer.
The training package includes simulators and pilot training, first in South Korea, and then in Poland. The contract also provides for technology transfer: an FA-50PL aircraft maintenance center will be built in Poland with a planned launch date in 2026.
Delivery of the first 12 FA-50 Block aircraft.10 is scheduled for the second half of 2023, and deliveries of 36 FA-50PL will begin in 2025 and will be carried out within 2-3 years.
FA-50 is a South Korean light two–seat combat aircraft equipped with modern avionics and fire control radar. The maximum take–off weight is 12.3 tons, the payload weight is up to 4.5 tons. It is armed with a 20-mm cannon and a wide range of suspended aviation weapons, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air UR, the AGM-65 Mavrik air-to-ground UR, as well as several types of various types of aerial bombs. The aircraft is equipped with a 22,000 lbf (98 kN) engine and is capable of a maximum speed of 1.5 M (1837.5 km/h). The flight range is 1800 km, the practical ceiling is 14.6 km.
All contracted FA-50 aircraft will be equipped with a Link-16 system and a NATO-standard "friend-foe" identification system. The aircraft purchased as part of the second stage will be distinguished by improved flight range characteristics, a package of weapons, as well as avionics and radar in accordance with the Blok standard.20.
