Korea Signs Massive Arms Deal with Poland

Poland on Wednesday signed a W25 trillion contract to buy K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers and FA-50 light combat fighter jets from Korea (US$1=W1,313). 

The weapons will be shipped on three occasions over the next decade, with the first shipment alone worth W10 trillion, making it the biggest arms contract Korea has ever clinched. 

The two countries' defense ministers met in May and President Yoon Suk-yeol also talked about defense cooperation with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Spain in June. 

Warsaw is to take delivery of 980 K2 tanks, 648 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 48 FA-50 fighter jets. 

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and Armament Agency chief Artur Kuptel met for the signing at the Polish Defense Ministry with representatives of Korean defense companies. 

The K2 tanks are made by Hyundai Rotem, the K9 howitzers by Hanwha Defense, and the FA-50 fighters by Korea Aerospace Industries.

Poland is eager to fill a shortfall in defense capacity because it supplied huge amounts of arms to help Ukraine defend itself against the Russian invasion. It considered buying U.S. fighter jets and German tanks but finally decided on Korean arms instead. 

"Due to Poland's support for Ukraine, it was necessary to fill the void in ground and air power. The Korean weapons system was the most suitable considering the technology, price and time of delivery," Błaszczak said.