Hyundai Rotem to Manufacture 1,000 K2 Tanks in Poland

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has announced the conclusion of negotiations with South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem to produce 1,000 K2 main battle tanks in Poland.

The new contract, which follows an initial 2022 deal, will focus on the localized K2PL variant and will be signed shortly at a formal ceremony attended by senior government officials from both countries.

“This is one of the largest executive contracts in history,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said during a press conference in Warsaw on July 2, alongside Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Bejda.

The minister confirmed the upcoming agreement will include 180 tanks, 80 support vehicles, and a comprehensive logistics, service, and training package.

The first implementation contract signed in 2022 covered 180 South Korea-made K2 Black Panther tanks worth $3.37 billion. The new deal expands the scope by enabling domestic production in Poland, including joint development of the K2PL with Polish defense firms, such as Bumar Łabędy.

“A great day we’ve all been waiting for,” said Bejda. He emphasized that this second contract required longer negotiations due to the integration of new elements like local assembly, support infrastructure, and technology transfer.

Under the deal, Hyundai Rotem will manufacture some tanks in South Korea, while the rest will be built in Poland. Production facilities are being planned to support the effort, including new investments at Bumar Łabędy.

The final agreement, expected to be signed soon, aligns with both Poland’s defense modernization and the European Union’s Rearmament Plan announced in March 2025. Officials say the technology transfer and local assembly approach support NATO interoperability and economic revitalization.

The first 30 tanks under the second contract are scheduled to be delivered in 2026. The entire K2 tank fleet is equipped with 120 mm smoothbore guns, 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm machine guns, a battlefield management system, and optional active protection systems.

The K2 platform combines high firepower, mobility, and protection, with a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine, hydropneumatic suspension, and advanced fire control systems.

“This is a great moment for our armed forces and our arms industry,” said Kosiniak-Kamysz. “The Polish version of the K2 will be made in Poland, for Poland.”