The second export negotiations for Hyundai Rotem's K2 tanks to Poland are dragging on. The second contract includes local production conditions for some quantities. As the contract is delayed, workers at the Polish military factory, where the K2PL (Polish model of the K2 tank) production was scheduled, have expressed concerns about the loss of future work and have staged protests.
On the 2nd, according to Polish media WNP and others, some members of the union at the defense corporation Bumar-Łabędy in the Gliwice region have protested in front of the factory gates on the 26th of last month (local time), urging for the second contract for the K2 tank. Bumar-Łabędy is a company in which Poland's state-owned defense corporation Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) owns an 85.69% equity and is currently responsible for producing the Polish localized version of Germany's Leopard 2 tank, the Leopard 2PL.
They have participated in protests because the second contract for the K2 tank is delayed beyond the expected timeframe, raising concerns that work would vanish after the ongoing mass production project is completed. Participants in the protest stated, "We were promised K2 tank production from PGZ, but the contract has not yet been finalized, and there are no additional tasks such as the production of the Krab self-propelled howitzer. The currently ongoing Leopard 2PL project will also be completed in about one to one and a half years," adding that "even if the contract is signed today, production would start from 2028 to 2029. The company is likely to lay off workers in between to reduce expenses."
Following the protests, PGZ management released a statement saying, "Those participating in this protest are just a minority of the factory's employees and are attempting to polarize the staff," and added, "PGZ aims for long-term job security and employment growth." PGZ is the corporation expected to take over the production of the K2PL and has been negotiating with Hyundai Rotem regarding the transfer of technology and the scope of local production.
The second export contract for K2 tanks with Poland was expected to be finalized last year; however, it has been delayed due to internal circumstances in Poland and the impacts of the December 3rd emergency martial law. The second contract is for the same scale as the first, which is 180 units, but due to conditions such as technology transfer, the amount is reported to have doubled to about 9 trillion won compared to the first contract.
After the second contract, some quantities will be produced and delivered from Korea, while others will be produced locally in the K2PL version. The K2PL model, upgraded with capabilities such as hard-kill active protection systems (APS) that detect and destroy enemy anti-tank weapons, and a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) that can automate the turret, reflects the requirements of the Polish military.
The South Korean government is working hard to finalize the contract. Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Tae-yul visited Poland on the 5th of last month to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau and agreed to provide all possible support to expedite the signing of the second implementation contract for the K2 tank. A delegation from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration also accompanied Minister Park on his visit to Poland.