Poland on track to surpass combined tank count of the UK, Germany, France, and Italy by 2030
In a significant move towards strengthening its military capabilities, Poland has signed a deal with South Korea to acquire 180 K2 tanks, with deliveries scheduled from 2026 to 2030. This agreement, worth over €6 billion, is a key part of Poland's Wilk modernization initiative and is set to increase Poland's total tank fleet to approximately 1,100 units by 2030.
The deal includes 116 K2 tanks in the current K2GF (Gap Filler) configuration and 64 K2PL variants tailored for Poland and to be produced domestically. Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean defence company, has already delivered 133 K2 tanks under the initial contract, and the new contract for an additional 180 tanks was signed in 2025.
Moreover, the agreement includes the licensed production of up to 820 K2PL tanks in Poland. This addition significantly boosts Poland’s armored capabilities, marking a significant step forward in the country's military modernization.
Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak, known as Kosiniak-Kamysz, expressed his pride in the contract and his happiness in building a strong, safe, and prosperous Poland with the help of this agreement. He stated that the contract is signed in the name of the memory and heroism of those who fought in the Warsaw Uprising, an event commemorated on the day the agreement was signed.
This tank expansion places Poland in a unique position among NATO members. By 2030, Poland will have more tanks than Germany, Italy, the UK, and France combined. Only two NATO member states - Greece and Turkey - will have more tanks than Poland following the completion of the deal.
Poland's military expansion is motivated by the war in neighbouring Ukraine and the crisis on the Belarusian border. Germany has shown support for Poland's measures to curb migration from Belarus.
In addition to the K2 tanks, Poland has also purchased K239 Chunmoo rocket artillery launchers, FA-50 light combat aircraft, and K9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea. The new agreement also includes 81 support vehicles, logistical training, a full service and repair programme, and a technology transfer provision.
Poland's defence spending stands at 4.7% of its GDP, the highest share among NATO countries in relative terms. The country has also acquired military hardware from other allies, such as the US, including Abrams tanks, Apache helicopters, HIMARS artillery launchers, and Patriot missile defense systems.
The Polish finance minister has announced that Poland is set to receive the biggest share of the EU's proposed €2 trillion budget. This significant financial boost, coupled with strategic defence partnerships, positions Poland as a key player in the European defence landscape.
- The agreement between Poland and South Korea for the acquisition of 180 K2 tanks, worth over €6 billion, is not only a key part of Poland's military modernization but also a significant step in the country's political news and war-and-conflicts landscape.
- The Polish finance minister's announcement of Poland receiving the biggest share of the EU's proposed €2 trillion budget, coupled with strategic defence partnerships, positions Poland as a key player in both the political news and economic general-news arenas.
