Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak in Morąg presented the Polish Army with the latest K2 tanks
09.12.2022
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak met with soldiers of the 20th Mechanised Brigade in Morąg. During the visit, state-of-the-art K2 tanks were handed over to the military unit. The delivery of those vehicles from South Korea was incredibly fast and they arrived just a few months after the agreement was signed. The K2 Black Panther tanks are an example of cutting-edge military technology, developed in the 21st century and compatible with NATO systems. The tanks are also highly capable on rough terrain and adapted to operations on Polish soil. The K2 tanks are only part of the deliveries as part of a historic investment in the expansion and modernisation of the Polish Army. At the same time, we are pursuing orders of equipment from the USA and we are significantly increasing troop numbers and funding. We are also ensuring regular and intensive cooperation with NATO allies.
Best available military technology in the service of the Polish Army
In July 2022, we concluded a framework agreement with South Korea to procure a total of 1,000 K2 tanks and their Polonised development version K2PL. They will arrive along with the accompanying technical support vehicles and other components based on Polish solutions. The agreement also provides for the exchange of knowledge, technology and experience between the Polish and Korean military industries, as well as a training and logistic package, ammunition supply, and manufacturer's technical support.
At the end of August 2022, we concluded executive agreements related to the procurement of the first 180 K2 tanks from Korea in 2022-2025.
On 6 December 2022, we received delivery of the first ten K2 Black Panther tanks. Today, they were handed over to the battalion of the 20th Mechanised Brigade in Morąg. This is the first batch of equipment to be delivered under the concluded agreements to Poland. Next year, there will be further deliveries.
“We want to have such a strong army, such a well-modernised army and state-of-the-art equipment that no one would think of attacking Poland,” said the Head of Government.
The handover of those tanks is tangible proof of our commitment to the modernisation and development of our army. We are proud to be able to provide our military with the best possible equipment, thereby strengthening our defence capability.
Record investment in state-of-the-art equipment for the Polish army
It is worth emphasising that investment in the Polish Army began even before Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Poland must be ready for potential threats. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 confirmed the validity of our actions. Thus, next year we will spend more than PLN 100 billion on the modernisation of the Polish military, which is more than 3 per cent of military expenditure relative to GDP.
“After 24 February, the world awoke from its geopolitical slumber very quickly. Today, we are among those who are setting goals for others,” emphasised Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Poland is not lagging behind and continuously invests in the modernisation and expansion of the armed forces. In recent months alone, we have signed agreements for new tanks, rocket launchers, aircraft and howitzers. We are also pursuing orders of the latest American equipment for our army – Abrams tanks, HIMARS, F-35s or Cougar MRAPs. At the same time, we are increasing the size of our army. This is an unprecedented expansion of our army.
