Hyundai Rotem of South Korea has contracted with Poland to supply an additional 820 K2 tanks, with the K2 model generating significant interest in Poland. Recently, various Polish media outlets had the opportunity to visit the Hyundai Rotem Changwon Plant, where they toured the K2 production facilities and engaged with top company executives. Hyundai Rotem is preparing for further contracts, highlighting the K2′s performance and ability to deliver swiftly.

In July 2022, Hyundai Rotem finalized an export framework agreement with the Polish Armaments Agency to supply 1,000 units. By August of the same year, the company had signed its initial execution contract for 180 units and has since completed the delivery of 46 units.

Hyundai Rotem's K2 tank./Hyundai Rotem YouTube

Hyundai Rotem is also advancing the development of the K2PL, which is being tailored with contributions from the Polish military, a current user of the K2GF variant. Defense24, a Polish defense news outlet, reported that the K2PL’s design, including its hull and internal structure, is expected to largely mirror the current model. The tank might be equipped with a high-caliber machine gun, either the K6—a South Korean adaptation of the American Browning M2—or the WKM-B, produced by Poland’s ZM Tarnow.

Furthermore, the K2PL is set to incorporate a hard-kill active protection system (APS) capable of identifying and neutralizing incoming anti-tank threats. Among the contenders for this system are the Trophy HV by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the Korean Active Protection System (KAPS), a collaborative effort between Hanwha Aerospace and the Agency for Defense Development.

In April 2023, Cho Hyun-ki, Deputy Minister of Current Capability Program at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA); An Kyung-soo, Managing Director of Hyundai Rotem's Defense Solutions Division; Sebastian Chewalek, Chairman of PGZ; and Mariusz Blaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Poland, gathered for a photo during the signing ceremony of the consortium agreement. This agreement marks the progression of production and delivery efforts for the Polish K2 tank in Poland./Hyundai Rotem

Another potential addition is a novel system being developed by Hyundai Rotem in partnership with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The tank will also feature a remote-controlled fire system (RCWS) and additional external armor, increasing its weight to 65 tons from the existing 57 tons.

Hyundai Rotem has proposed manufacturing 500 of the 820 additional K2PL tanks in Poland, including the transfer of some technological aspects.

Lee Yong-bae, the President of Hyundai Rotem, told Polish local media, “We are in talks with Polish defense firms PGZ and WZM, both consortium members, about building production capabilities and transferring technology to produce the K2PL jointly. We are preparing to adhere to delivery timelines stipulated by the Polish Armed Forces Administration.”