Featured News Korea-Poland Military Export Deal

Baljak

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Photo of K2 Black Panther MBT in NATO tri-color camouflage for Polish Land Forces accidentally leaked from Defense Acquisition Program Administration documents six days ago. Currently, the original photo has been deleted.

"I just hope that the newly produced tanks pass the test safely. After this stage, the only thing left is to ship the tank to Poland via a container ship"

Hyundai Rotem production plant in Changwon, Korea, on the 16th. Chief manager Kim Mi-jung's expression was full of tension as she watched the K2 tank driving test. When the K2 tanks entered the performance test site one after another, they put their hands together and hoped that the test would pass without any problems. He said, "I've been watching K2 tanks in front of my eyes for years, but the tanks that are currently being tested for performance are meaningful. "It is the site where we are writing a new milestone in K-defense, given that it is Korea's first export tank as well as our company," he said with pride.

However, all the processes of the K2 tank have not been easy from the beginning. The K2 tank development project was launched in 1995 with the aim of replacing the aging M48 tank, but it had to go through difficult times as defects were found one after another in the tank's core parts. Defects were found in engines in 2009 and transmissions the following year. However, after compensating for most of the defects except for the transmission in 2019, the mass production of the second tank began.

Hyundai Rotem's plant in Changwon looked busy with last-minute work on the production of K2 tanks, which will soon leave for Poland under tight security. This is the first time that Hyundai Rotem has unveiled a K2 tank assembly and performance test site for Polish exports to the media. In particular, the performance test was in the final inspection stage to announce the imminent release, which required the best security.

Hyundai Rotem's production and export of tanks to Poland is the first case of tank exports in South Korea. This is why domestic and foreign defense industries are paying keen attention to the export of K2 tanks. Hyundai Rotem, which signed the first implementation contract with Poland last month, is currently focusing on producing 180 tanks for the first delivery.

The prototypes completed early are undergoing various performance checks under the observation of the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ). There are about 200 test items alone. Hyundai Rotem officials explain that due to the nature of weapons, all functions must be interlocked like cogwheels to operate normally, so even minor parts can never be neglected.

Due to the large-scale arms export contract with Poland, Hyundai Rotem's factory had more work, and the production site was also greatly encouraged. Each facility building, such as welding, processing, and assembly, seemed busy lighting up the workplace lights and loading parts without stopping operation. Tanks were tightly located on the conveyor belts lined up, waiting for the workers to reach them.

Hyundai Rotem is also making all-out efforts to secure talent as demand has soared not only in Korea but also abroad. Recently, an unprecedented large-scale special recruitment notice has been issued to recruit new and experienced employees at the same time. It is evaluated that it is very unusual in the defense industry to hire new employees with experience in various fields for quality management and establishing European branches in Poland as well as defense technology. Given that there are 1,000 primary and secondary suppliers related to K2 tanks in the region, some say that they will contribute considerably to the development of the local economy, including job creation.

With the first export of K2 tanks, Hyundai Rotem plans to expand its domestic tank exports to Europe, known as Germany's exclusive arms market, by establishing a European branch in Poland as well as the Middle Eastern countries that are actively introducing tanks.

Developers of the K2 tank plan to take a step further from the current technology level and actively develop a new mobile main battle tank for future warfare. A researcher at the Agency for Defense Development said, "The core of the next generation of main battle tanks will be mobility, unmanned turrets equipped with 130 mm tank guns, and protection capabilities, and major defense exporters such as the U.S. and Germany have begun developing next-generation main battle tanks. we will also start developing new main battle tanks (K3) before it is too late"

Article Source: https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25104155#home
 
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Baljak

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Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense announced on the 19th that they held a rollout ceremony at their factory in Changwon to commemorate the first shipment of K2 and K9 to be exported to Poland. The ceremony was attended by Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski, Polish Army Commander Maciej Jabolnski, South Korean government officials and representatives of defense companies.

Polish K2_1.jpg

The K2 and K9 that will be shipped to Poland on this day are Gap filler tanks and Self-Propelled Howitzers for Polish troops. Gap filler is a word that means military equipment to be operated until new military equipment is introduced to replace old military equipment. Poland, which recently announced plans to introduce the next generation of tanks, has decided to receive 180 K2 tanks and 212 K9A1 produced in South Korea first to quickly replace aging tanks and Self-Propelled Howitzer.

Polish K9_1.jpg

Starting with 10 K2s and 24 K9s, which will be shipped for the first time on October 19, they will be delivered sequentially to Poland by 2025. Upon arrival in Poland, the K2 and K9A1 will be deployed to the 16th Mechanised Division of the Polish Land Forces through inspection procedures.

Polish K9_3.jpg

Earlier, Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense signed a framework agreement with Poland's PGZ in July to urgently supply K2 and K9. Then, in August, they signed an executive agreement to export 180 K2s and 212 K9A1s, and finally signed an export contract for K2s and K9s.

Photo: Yonhap News
 

Knowledgeseeker

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View attachment 49112
Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense announced on the 19th that they held a rollout ceremony at their factory in Changwon to commemorate the first shipment of K2 and K9 to be exported to Poland. The ceremony was attended by Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski, Polish Army Commander Maciej Jabolnski, South Korean government officials and representatives of defense companies.

View attachment 49116
The K2 and K9 that will be shipped to Poland on this day are Gap filler tanks and Self-Propelled Howitzers for Polish troops. Gap filler is a word that means military equipment to be operated until new military equipment is introduced to replace old military equipment. Poland, which recently announced plans to introduce the next generation of tanks, has decided to receive 180 K2 tanks and 212 K9A1 produced in South Korea first to quickly replace aging tanks and Self-Propelled Howitzer.

View attachment 49119
Starting with 10 K2s and 24 K9s, which will be shipped for the first time on October 19, they will be delivered sequentially to Poland by 2025. Upon arrival in Poland, the K2 and K9A1 will be deployed to the 16th Mechanised Division of the Polish Land Forces through inspection procedures.

View attachment 49120
Earlier, Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense signed a framework agreement with Poland's PGZ in July to urgently supply K2 and K9. Then, in August, they signed an executive agreement to export 180 K2s and 212 K9A1s, and finally signed an export contract for K2s and K9s.

Photo: Yonhap News
Fast delievery👏 Any news in korean media about morocco being interested in choumo launchers?
 

Baljak

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Fast delievery👏 Any news in korean media about morocco being interested in choumo launchers?
I understand that the Moroccan government did not request for proposal (RPF) or purchase inquiry about Chunmoo MLRS at DX KOREA held in Korea in September. If the Moroccan government asked the Korean government for a non-disclosure contract, there is a possibility that the entire export process is being carried out behind closed doors, such as the case of exporting Chunmu MLRS to the United Arab Emirates in the past.
 

Knowledgeseeker

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I understand that the Moroccan government did not request for proposal (RPF) or purchase inquiry about Chunmoo MLRS at DX KOREA held in Korea in September. If the Moroccan government asked the Korean government for a non-disclosure contract, there is a possibility that the entire export process is being carried out behind closed doors, such as the case of exporting Chunmu MLRS to the United Arab Emirates in the past.
I dont have any stroung source from the moroccan side, but i heard about a potential deal including 24 launchers. Whats the price tag for the chunmoo?
 

Windchime

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I dont have any stroung source from the moroccan side, but i heard about a potential deal including 24 launchers. Whats the price tag for the chunmoo?
Depends on the scope of the contract. For example Poland decided to only buy the launcher and the control electronics so that they could integrate it on their trucks. More importantly, cost of procuring MRLs mostly comes from the ammunition more than the launch platforms themselves, especially when it's PGM or has special payload like DP-ICM.
 

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Korea-Poland express shipping of K9A1 SPH. 48 pieces in total after 6 months of contract signing. Good speed.

More K9A1 Howitzers on the Way to Poland​

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Armatohaubice samobieżne K9A1 w trakcie wysyłki do Polski. Photo. Hanwha

Hanwha company, the manufacturer of the 155-mm K9 thunder howitzers, has revealed that another batch of those howitzers are being shipped to Poland.

In December 2022, 24 K9A1 howitzers were delivered. They came from the pool of total 48 howitzers that are to be delivered within the first phase of the contract. Recently, Hanwha Aerospace has informed that third batch amounting to 12 howitzers is being shipped to Poland. This means that also the second batch, also amounting to 12 howitzers, is on its way to Poland.

According to Hanwha, the framework agreement with Poland covers the delivery of more than 600 K9-family howitzers. More than 300 of those are planned to be produced within the framework of an industrial cooperation between the Polish and Korean industry.

The first 24 K9A1 howitzers were delivered in the end of 2022 to the 11 Mazovian Artillery Regiment. The framework agreement for delivery of up to 672 K9A1 and K9PL was signed in July, while the first execution agreement for 212 K9A1 howitzers, along with logistics and training package as well as a substantial number of ammunition, was signed in August. The deliveries of 212 howitzers are scheduled to be finished in 2026. All of those howitzers will be integrated with the Polish Topaz Battle Management Systems and Polish C2 systems.

 

MaciekRS

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There was "term sheet" agreement that was signed 23rd of February betweeen Hyundai Rotem Company and PGZ about K2 tanks (service, repairs etc) and between Hanwha and Huta Stalowa Wola about K9PL, polonization of same parts, montage, etc.
More talks in next months to finalize agreement.
And by the way, birds are saying that talks with Korea are not going well, they dont want to give us too much to produce and its possible that we end up with more Abrams instead of K2.
 
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Windchime

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  • The first heavy infantry fighting vehicles will be delivered to the army in 2025
  • The new wheeled armored personnel carrier will be developed from scratch by PGZ and will replace the Rosomaks
  • Several hundred new light 4x4 vehicles will be delivered to the army in the years 2024 - 2030

The new Heavy IFV is based on K9 chassis, which is already in wide use in Polish forces coupled with ZSSW-30 turret of the Borsuk.

There were rumors arround a possible cooperation between Hyundai Rotem and PGZ for the new wheeled APC but it seems like the NKTO will be wholly Polish design.

Last is KLTV from Kia. I'd say its a robust choice.
 

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