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SEOUL, South Korea, and WARSAW, Poland — Korean protection firms Hyundai Rotem, Korea Aerospace Industries and Hanwha Protection count on to signal a memorandum of perceive on July 27 with the Polish Ministry of Protection for wide-ranging weapon exports, officers right here mentioned.
A senior official of the Korean Presidential Workplace lately met these firms’ executives to debate export quantity, value, and timeline, following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s protection gross sales diplomacy throughout the latest NATO summit, in line with these officers.
The Polish authorities is reportedly discussing with the Korean protection firms the acquisition of Ok-2 tanks from Hyundai Rotem, FA50 gentle assault plane from KAI, and K9 self-propelled artillery from Hanwha below a long-term association.
The three firms’ export quantity may attain as much as 19 trillion Korean received ($14.5 billion) when all of these gross sales are added up. Particularly, Hyundai Rotem is speaking with Poland to produce 180 K2 tanks (value 3 trillion KRW, or $2.3 billion) by 2024, and the nation might also buy 400 K2 tanks by 2030, value 8 trillion KRW, or $6.1 billion. KAI is discussing promoting 48 gentle assault plane FA50 for 3.4 trillion KRW, or $2.6 billion. Poland additionally plans to buy 670 K9 self-propelled artilleries that value 4-5 trillion KRW, or $3 billion to $3.8 billion.
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A spokesperson on the Ministry of Protection in Warsaw declined to offer particulars about what offers are on the desk within the two international locations’ negotiations, saying solely particulars can be launched quickly. “The continuing talks concern not solely the acquisition of army gear to strengthen the Polish Armed Forces, they’re additionally associated to the problems of commercial cooperation and switch of know-how,” the spokesperson informed Protection Information.
In an interview printed by native web site Wpolityce.pl on July 22, Polish Nationwide Protection Minister Mariusz Błaszczak confirmed Poland is finalizing negotiations with South Korea to purchase 48 FA-50 plane and an undisclosed variety of K2 tanks.
“We are going to obtain the primary models this yr; in whole, it is going to be 180 tanks within the first batch,” he mentioned.
Protection exports to Poland can be the South Korean protection firms’ first gross sales to Europe, elevating the prospect of further offers there and elsewhere. Particularly, South Korean firms are eying tenders in Norway, Australia, Malaysia and Colombia.
In the meantime, Błaszczak introduced Poland has determined to purchase 116 used M1 Abrams tanks from the U.S. on prime of its earlier order for 250 new tanks to switch the Soviet-designed T-72 tanks it has equipped to Ukraine.
“These tanks are saved by the USA Military. The primary of those tanks shall be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces subsequent yr. We wish them to fill within the gaps left after we donated our gear to Ukraine,” Błaszczak mentioned throughout a press convention on July 18.
The worth of the procurement was not disclosed. Nonetheless, the minister mentioned that Warsaw pays the U.S. for restoring the tanks’ operational capacities, an accompanying logistics package deal, and spare elements. Błaszczak mentioned the 116 tanks signify “an older model” of the M1 Abrams.
Daehan Lee is a South Korea correspondent for Protection Information. He beforehand labored on the U.S. and Belgian embassies in Seoul, for the Folks Energy Social gathering, and for election camps. He additionally served as a translator for the South Korean Navy. His pursuits embrace Asia-Pacific safety, protection acquisition, South Korean politics and international coverage.
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Protection Information.
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