According to South Korea’s Hankyoreh News, Hyundai Rotem has finalized a landmark deal positioning Poland as the central European hub for K2 Black Panther tank production and maintenance. This follows the signing of a $6.5 billion contract with the Polish Ministry of National Defence, which builds on the framework of an earlier 2022 agreement.
The new arrangement secures the delivery of 180 more K2 tanks, beginning with 64 units in the K2PL variant, a version specifically customized to Poland’s defense requirements. The deal reflects both Poland’s growing role in Europe’s armored forces and South Korea’s commitment to deep industrial collaboration.
One of the most significant elements of the contract is the full transfer of technology, ensuring that future production, assembly, and maintenance will occur domestically in Poland. Only three tanks from the K2PL series will be manufactured in South Korea, with the rest assembled in Gliwice by PGZ’s subsidiary Bumar-Łabędy.
By transforming the Bumar-Łabędy facility into a key armored vehicle center, the agreement sets the stage for Poland to become a regional leader in tank production and sustainment. It also reinforces NATO’s eastern flank with enhanced industrial and defense capabilities.
