On August 26, 2022, at a ceremony in the Polish city of Morong near the border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak approved the executive contracts signed on the same day by the Armaments Agency of the Ministry of National Defense of Poland with South Korean companies for the supply of large batches of military equipment for the Polish Army - with Hyundai Rotem for the supply of 180 K2 Black main tanks Panther under the Wilk program, and with Hanwha Defense - for the supply of 212 K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers of 155 mm/52 caliber. The ceremony of approval by the Minister of National Defense of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak signed executive contracts of the Armaments Agency of the Ministry of National Defense of Poland with South Korean companies for the supply of 180 K2 Black Panther main tanks and 212 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers for the Polish Army Thunder.
Morong (Poland), 26.08.2022 (c) The Ministry of National Defense of Poland Recall that the relevant framework agreements were signed by the Polish and South Korean sides on July 26, 2022.
These agreements and the contracts that have now been finalized are the largest in the history of the South Korean defense industry and represent an unprecedented historical breakthrough for South Korean defense exports. Poland also became the first foreign customer of the South Korean K2 tank. [...]
The contract with Hyundai Rotem for the supply of 180 ready-made K2 tanks has a net value of 3.37 billion dollars (16 billion Polish zloty). Tank deliveries are planned for 2022-2025, of which the first 10 vehicles will be delivered to Poland this year. Along with the tanks, a training complex with Embedded Training System simulators was also purchased, the contract also includes training of Polish crews and technical personnel in South Korea and Poland. The South Korean Ground Forces will assist in the training of personnel on the K2 tank. The contract also includes a logistics package, which includes a stock of spare parts and consumables, as well as sets of special tools and diagnostic devices.
From the moment of delivery of the first tanks, Hyundai Rotem will provide service support for their operation. In addition, a large supply of ammunition was ordered - "tens of thousands" of 120 mm tank shots of unspecified types.
All K2 tanks ordered by Russia will be in a standard configuration, but they will be equipped with communication systems in accordance with the requirements of the Polish armed forces (that is, apparently, American). Modification of K2 tanks to Polish requirements and the organization of their production in Poland will be carried out at the next stage of the Wilk program, in accordance with the framework agreements signed on July 26, but not yet finalized.
The second contract for the supply of 212 K9A1 self-propelled howitzers to Poland has a value of $2.4 billion. net (11.4 billion zloty). The delivery schedule provides for the execution of the order in 2022-2026, while the first 24 guns will be delivered to Poland this year. At the same time, apparently, the purchase of K10 ammunition transport vehicles and K11 control vehicles made on the K9 ACS chassis was not made. According to Polish profile sources, apparently, the divisions of the Polish army equipped with K9A1 ACS will have a staff similar to the current Polish Regina divisional sets with Krab self-propelled howitzers, with auxiliary and transport vehicles and Polish-made cars.
The contract for the purchase of K9A1 also includes a training complex with training equipment and training of personnel in Poland. The logistics package will consist of a stock of spare parts, consumables and equipment for the operation of self-propelled guns, and Hanwha Defense will support the operation of the K9A1 from the moment of their delivery. The purchase includes ammunition from "several tens of thousands" of various types of 155-mm artillery ammunition.
The purchase of the K9A1 involves the use of Polish communication systems and interfaces with the Polish integrated automated artillery control system Topaz. Subsequently, the K9A1 should be equipped with inertial navigation systems similar to those installed on Polish Krab self-propelled guns. Production of modified South Korean self-propelled guns of the K9 series in Poland is planned to be organized at a later stage of the program, also in accordance with the framework agreements signed on July 26, but not yet finalized.
Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak said at the contract finalizing ceremony: "We have achieved a lot in a short time with our South Korean partner. From the point of view of Poland's security, the most important thing is that the first samples of tanks and howitzers will be delivered to the Polish Army this year. At the end of this year, 10 K2 tanks will be delivered to Morong, and 24 K9 howitzers will be delivered to the artillery regiment in Vengozhevo."
"The soldiers of the Polish Army will go to Korea in October this year to train on K2 tanks. Thus, the crews will return from training, and the new tanks will be at the disposal of the Polish Army. Thus, we are strengthening the security of the Republic of Poland," Blaszczak said.
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