According to Poland’s TVP World on August 21, 2025, and confirmed by South Korea’s Hankyoreh News, Hyundai Rotem is set to make Poland the European production and maintenance hub for the K2 Black Panther main battle tank. The development follows the signing of a second executive agreement between the Polish Ministry of National Defence and Hyundai Rotem, worth around $6.5 billion, significantly expanding the initial 2022 framework.
Under the new deal, Poland will receive 180 additional K2 tanks, including the first 64 in the K2PL configuration tailored to Polish requirements. Importantly, the contract ensures full transfer of production, assembly, and MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) technologies to Poland. Only the first three tanks will be manufactured in South Korea, while the remaining 61 will be assembled locally by the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) at its Bumar-Łabędy facility in Gliwice, which is being developed into a regional armored vehicle hub.
This builds on the 2022 contract under which Poland initially ordered 180 tanks produced in South Korea for rapid delivery. Valued at approximately $3.37 billion, the first deal aimed to quickly reinforce Poland’s armored brigades amid regional security challenges. Deliveries began in late 2022, with over 150 units already in service by mid-2025. The full batch is expected to be completed by year’s end.
In total, the strategic framework envisions up to 1,000 K2 tanks for Poland, the majority to be produced domestically as K2PLs. Full-scale local production is scheduled to start in 2026 and continue until 2035. These tanks will feature reinforced armor, NATO-compatible communication and battle management systems, and modifications optimized for European terrain.
Beyond bolstering Poland’s own defense, the agreement positions the country as the central hub for K2 production, support, and potential exports within Europe. By acquiring production know-how and infrastructure, Poland will not only build its own fleet but also become a key partner in supplying NATO allies.
Currently, Poland is the only confirmed European operator of the K2 Black Panther, but other nations—including Romania, Slovakia, and Estonia—are closely monitoring the program. Hyundai Rotem’s co-production strategy in Poland makes the K2PL more attractive to prospective buyers by offering shorter delivery timelines and EU-based sustainment.
If further European customers join, Poland could directly produce and export K2PL tanks to allied markets, solidifying its role as a key industrial and strategic partner while reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank with one of the most advanced main battle tanks available today.
