At $6.7 billion, he is expected to announce a contract signed by the Ministry of Defence with Hyundai Rot on Friday. It'll get 180 tanks into the army. More than 60 of them will be in K2PL version, which will be produced in Poland. The first deliveries are scheduled for next year.
New in contracts with Korean partner is the recording guaranteeing the transfer of part of the production of the ordered tanks to Poland. More than 60 vehicles in the K2PL version and support wagons are to be manufactured in the “Bumar-Łabada” plants of the Polish Armed Forces Group. In Poland there is besides to be a service of equipment and its modernization.
What can an Asian panther do?
The K2 Black Panther tanks are evidence of how hard and long-lasting investigation and improvement may be on any weapons systems. At the same time, they show that the determination to make a weaponry brings tangible economical and military effects. In the Armed Forces of Poland, the Black Panthers will be together with the American Abrams and German Leopards to form the core of the armored forces.
Military doctrines presume that sub-divisions with tanks weighing from 40 to 70 t are the main burden of fighting, which are intended to lead to the control of a given area of armed action. As experience from the conflict in the Persian Gulf has shown, and they show the conclusions of the war in Ukraine, even in areas as unfavorable as urban areas, Tanks are the key to victory. If they do not fight straight against enemy tanks and armored transporters and combat infantry cars, they support infantry fire.
Even in the erstwhile decade, the core of Polish armored forces formed somewhat more than 250 German Leopards 2. These are models 2A4, 2A5 and 2PL (i.e. upgraded according to Polish needs 2A4), which were to be supported by 232 PT-91 hard tanks and somewhat over 400 T-72 tanks (there were inactive about 300 remaining in warehouses).
The armored possible of SZ RP declined rapidly in early 2022, erstwhile after Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, Poland transferred immense amounts of military equipment to the attacked neighbour. These were both hundreds of T-72s and dozens of hard Tanks, as well as the Leopard 2A4 Tank Battalion. By handing over arms, the government decided not only to supplement the equipment of Polish units, but even to increase the armored force. In April 2022, the Ministry of Defence ordered 250 tanks Abrams M1A2 SEPv3, which is the latest version of them. 5 months later, a further step was made – a framework agreement was signed with Hyundai Rotem for the transportation of 1,000 tanks K2 Black Panther. 180 was to be delivered in the version presently produced and 820 as K2PL, or "polonized" and produced in Poland. A period later, in August 2022, 180 K2 Black Panther versions of the GF (Gap-Filler) were contracted, i.e. the current model of the Korean machine, but with the Polish communication system.
Armoured predator
K2 Black Panther is 1 of the smallest Gabarite Western base tanks that are presently manufactured. It weighs 55 t, is 10.8 m long, 3.6 m wide, and its tallness reaches 2.4 m. In the presently produced version of K2 it is powered by a diesel engine Hyundai Doosan DV27K with a power of 1500 hp. It allows the vehicle to run to a maximum of 70 km/h (on paved roads) and 50 km/h in the field.
The three-man crew has a 120 mm Hyundai WIA CN08 cannon with a velocity of up to 10 st/min, as well as a device weapon kal. 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm device gun. Korean arms companies have developed for K2 tanks an full scope of 120 mm ammunition, including KSTAM missiles – the Korean Smart Top Attack Munition – which can be attacked by targets even 8 km away.
In terms of ballistic protection, K2 typically have – like for example, PT-91 hard armor with ERA loads (Explosive Reactive Armour) whose detonation is intended to weaken the momentum of enemy missiles. Hyundai Rotem besides offers hard-kill solutions, i.e. installed on the tank (at the request of the recipient) of the subplates, which can be fired in the direction of danger.
Korean investigation and improvement work on K2 began in 1995. The prototype vehicle was transferred for investigating in 2008, and in 2014 (meaning almost 20 years after the task started!) the tank was introduced into service. Importantly, present all key components of K2, including its drive and armament, are Korean production.
In the Polish Army
The first 10 K2 tanks went to Poland in early December 2022. These machines were transferred to the 16th Pomeranian Mechanicalised Division, more specifically 20 The Bartoshite Mechanized Brigade. Another military-generated device (which presently exceeds 100 units) was besides directed to units of 16 DZ – that is, the 9th Braniewska Armoured Cavalry Brigade and the 15th Giżycka Mechanized Brigade. In the fall of 2024, respective K2 pieces were transferred to the Training Centre of Land Forces in Poznań.
The Black Panthers are to be apart from the American Abrams and German Leopards primary tanks of the Polish Army. Next to the tough ones, they are the lightest tanks in Polish armored units.