Hyundai Rotem has further solidified its position in the European defense market by finalizing a second export contract for the K2 tank with Poland.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration noted on the 2nd (local time) that Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak of Poland has completed negotiations with Hyundai Rotem regarding the second contract for the K2 tank and is expected to sign the contract.
The specific contract scale has not been disclosed at Poland's request. However, industry estimates suggest that the second contract will involve around 180 K2 tanks, valued at approximately $6.5 billion (8.8335 trillion won). This marks the largest individual defense export contract in history.
The Polish government is scheduled to hold an official contract signing ceremony soon, attended by high-ranking officials from both countries.
This contract is evaluated to elevate the level of defense cooperation beyond simple exports to include local production and technology transfer in Poland.
Poland previously signed a comprehensive framework contract with Korean defense companies to respond to the rapidly changing security environment following the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war.
In the same year, a first implementation contract for four weapon systems, including 180 K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and Cheonmu multiple launch rockets was signed. Subsequent contracts for K9 self-propelled howitzers (2023) and Cheonmu (2024) were also successfully completed.
Through the first contract for the K2 tank, Hyundai Rotem exported 180 units, and the initial quantity was delivered as finished goods produced in Korea. With this contract, Hyundai Rotem has rapidly jumped to become a 'tank exporting country' in the global defense market.
The K2 tank is regarded as a world-class 3.5 generation tank equipped with advanced fire control systems, an automatic loading system, and composite armor.
This second contract includes the development of the 'K2PL' tailored to the needs of the Polish army and local assembly production, extending the cooperation strategy beyond simple delivery. Some quantities are scheduled to be produced through collaboration between Hyundai Rotem and local defense companies in Poland. Consequently, K2 tank production facilities will also be newly established in Poland.
This is expected to be a critical turning point in laying the foundation for the future implementation of contracts for up to 1,000 tanks included in the framework contract.
In particular, this contract aligns with the direction of the 'European rearmament plan' announced by the European Union in March 2025. As European nations push for enhanced defense capabilities following the Russia-Ukraine war, Korean weapons systems with local production bases are gaining attention as a new alternative.
The K2PL contract is cited as a representative example of the 'K-defense export model' that combines excellent technology, production competitiveness, customized improvements, and localization strategies.
A government official said, 'The second K2 tank contract is a product of cooperation among the Ministry of National Defense, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Army as a 'one team.' Since the launch of Poland's new government, our government has continued to earn Poland's trust through ongoing technology transfer and financial support.'
Seok Jong-geon, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, stated, 'This contract is a turning point for K-defense to establish itself as a European security partner beyond one-time exports,' and added, 'We will continue to support the K2 tank to ensure it becomes a core defense asset for both Korea and Europe.'
Meanwhile, Hyundai Rotem has elevated its status to that of a 'global defense platform corporation' by securing a tank production base in Europe, moving beyond a simple defense export company. This has been assessed as a significant step in changing the landscape of defense exports and officially opening the era of K-defense in Europe.