On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, another shipment arrived in Poland from the Republic of Korea, including 12 units of 155-mm K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, 5 K2 Black Panther tanks, and 12 Homar-K multiple launch rocket system modules.
Photo: Paweł Bejda via X
“We welcome the latest shipment of equipment from the distant land of the Republic of Korea to Poland:
- 5 K2 Black Panther tanks
- 12 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers
- 12 Homar-K multiple launch rocket system modules
More equipment for the Polish Armed Forces is on the way…” – reported the Armaments Agency on the social media platform X.
“Weapon and tank deliveries for the Polish Armed Forces are being efficiently carried out. Last night, one of many shipments of Korean equipment arrived in Gdynia. This time, we are adding 5 more K2 tanks, 12 K9 self-propelled howitzers, and another 12 Homar-K launchers. The modules being unloaded will be integrated with Polish chassis, components, and systems,” added Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense, responsible for overseeing the technical modernization of the Polish Armed Forces.
K9A1 Thunder
The third delivery of K9A1 Thunder howitzers to Poland this year has just been completed. The first two deliveries occurred on June 11, with 6 howitzers, and on August 25, with 12 howitzers. For reference, previous deliveries were as follows: December 17 of last year – 18 howitzers, March 22 of last year – 12 howitzers, February 23 of last year – 12 howitzers, and December 12, 2022 – 24 howitzers. This means that to date, a total of 96 howitzers have been received.
The above deliveries are being carried out under the executive agreement dated August 26, 2022, with a value of 2.4 billion USD net (11.38 billion PLN net / 13.99 billion PLN), concluded between the Polish Armaments Agency and Hanwha Defense (now Hanwha Aerospace). According to this agreement, 212 K9A1 Thunder howitzers are to be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces between 2022 and 2026.
The logistical package includes a supply of spare parts and consumables, as well as equipment for the maintenance of the howitzers. The contractor also provides service support within Poland starting from the delivery of the first howitzers. The training package includes simulator equipment and personnel training in Poland.
On December 1 of last year, the Armaments Agency signed a second contract valued at 2.6 billion USD net (10.33 billion PLN net / 12.81 billion PLN gross) for the delivery of an additional 6 K9A1 howitzers in 2025, and 146 K9PL howitzers in 2026-2027. These contracts are the result of a framework agreement dated July 27, 2022, for a total of 672 K9A1 and K9PL howitzers (Hanwha Aerospace provides details of the cooperation offer for the production of AHS K9PL).
The implementation of the second executive contract is made possible by the National Assembly of Korea passing on February 29 of this year a law amending the capital limit of the Korea Eximbank (Export-Import Bank of Korea), which provides loans to Poland, as well as by the April negotiations of the Polish government delegation during their visit to Korea.
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled howitzer mounted on a tracked chassis. Its main armament is a 155 mm gun with a barrel length of 52 calibers, which, depending on the type of ammunition, provides precise firing at distances over 40 km. The K9’s armor protects against small-caliber weapons and artillery shrapnel. It is powered by a 1,000 horsepower diesel engine with an automatic transmission, which ensures high speed and mobility in any terrain. The howitzer weighs 47 tons. The K9A1 version incorporates a number of improvements, with a primary focus on increasing the effectiveness and range of fire to 54 km, enhancing situational awareness, and improving crew comfort.
Polish howitzers are equipped with domestic communication and fire control systems. The WB Group supplies the Fonet communication system and the Topaz fire control system.
Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak, MILMAG
K2 Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther)
Today’s receipt of K2 tanks in the GF (Gap Filler) version marks the fifth delivery of these vehicles to Poland this year. Earlier, the tanks were delivered on March 11 (3 units), March 17 (4 units), March 19 (11 units), and August 23 (5 units).
According to the declared schedule, the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) is set to deliver a total of 56 vehicles to Poland in 2024, so 28 vehicles remain to be delivered.
The first batch of 10 tanks was delivered on December 9, 2022, the second batch, consisting of 5 units, on March 22, 2023, the third batch, consisting of 7 units, on May 19, 2023, and the fourth batch, consisting of 6 units, on June 16, 2023. This means that a total of 56 tanks have been delivered so far. The remaining 96 units are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2025.
The deliveries of K2 Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) tanks to the Polish Armed Forces are the result of an executive contract dated August 26, 2022, valued at 3.37 billion USD net (15.98 billion PLN net / 19.65 billion PLN gross), concluded between the Armaments Agency of the Polish Ministry of National Defense and Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC). According to this agreement, a total of 180 tanks are to be delivered to Poland between 2022 and 2025.
At the beginning of March this year, the K2GF tanks participated in the Dragon-24 exercises—the largest drills held in Poland—where they operated alongside other NATO tanks for the first time.
The K2 Black Panther is a South Korean third-generation main battle tank. Its primary armament is a 120 mm smoothbore gun with an automatic loader, capable of using the latest types of ammunition. The secondary armament includes a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The tank’s advanced fire control system ensures high accuracy at long distances. The K2’s armor, in its standard configuration, provides high ballistic and mine protection and can be further enhanced with active protection systems, including soft kill (VIRSS) and hard kill (KAPS) systems. The tank is powered by a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine with an automatic transmission, providing high speed and mobility in any terrain. The K2 features a relatively low weight of 55 tons and utilizes hydropneumatic suspension.
Meanwhile, on July 9 of this year, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa and Hyundai Rotem Company signed a new consortium agreement, which will serve as the basis for placing an order for K2PL tanks for the Polish Armed Forces. The PGZ-HRC consortium expects the order to be placed by the end of 2024.
In 2022, a Framework Agreement was signed between the Armaments Agency and Hyundai Rotem Company, which provides for the delivery of 820 K2 tanks in the K2PL configuration. Of these, 500 K2PL tanks will be produced in Poland, along with accompanying vehicles, a logistical package, a training package, ammunition, and support.
Photo: sergant Aleksander Perz, 18th Mechanized Division
WWR Homar-K (K239 Chunmoo)
Today, the second batch of Homar-K multiple launch rocket system modules for this year was delivered. The first batch, also consisting of 12 modules, was delivered on June 11. As before, they will be sent to Huta Stalowa Wola (part of Polish Armaments Group) for integration with Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 chassis, the Topaz combat management system, the Fonet digital vehicle communication platform, and the Radmor radio communication system from the WB Group. The total number of launchers delivered by the Korean side now stands at 41 units.
Previously, all Homar-K launchers were sent to the 18th Artillery Regiment in Nowa Dęba, which is part of the 18th Mechanized Division. By December 30, 2023, 15 of the 17 units then delivered to the country had been received there.
On August 12 of this year, the first four Homar-K multiple launch rocket systems were delivered to the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade, which is part of the 16th Mechanized Division.
On October 19, 2022, the Armaments Agency signed a framework agreement with Hanwha Aerospace for the acquisition of 288 K239 Chunmoo launchers. On November 4, 2022, an executive contract was concluded for 218 launcher modules, along with logistical and training packages, a supply of ammunition—including several thousand precision-guided missiles with ranges of 80 km (Chunmoo 239 mm Missile) and 290 km (Long Range Missile) in 600 mm caliber—and technical support from the manufacturer, for 3.55 billion USD net.
During the visit of the Polish delegation to Korea on April 25 of this year, a second executive contract was signed, valued at approximately 1.6 billion USD net (6.45 billion PLN net / 7.93 billion PLN gross), for the delivery of 72 launcher modules along with logistical and training packages and the integration of Homar-K launchers. The agreement also includes the delivery of several thousand precision-guided missiles with ranges of 80 km and 290 km (CTM-290) and technical support from the manufacturer. The delivery dates are scheduled for 2026-2029. The total number of launchers will thus increase to 290 (with two additional launchers likely going to the Center for Artillery and Armament Training in Toruń) (Export ballistic missile for Chunmoo with a range of 500 km).
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