On Tuesday, 28 October 2025, representatives of Bumar-Łabędy, part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), and South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) officially signed an agreement marking another significant stage of Polish-Korean cooperation in the K2 tank program.
Photo: Polish Armaments Group
As part of the contract, ZM Bumar-Łabędy will acquire, among other things, the tools and production equipment necessary to launch a Polish assembly line for K2PL tanks and accompanying vehicles.
“Today we are taking a key step toward the Polishisation of the K2 tank. This is a very important agreement not only for ZM Bumar-Łabędy S.A. and Hyundai Rotem Company, but also for the entire PGZ Capital Group and the Polish Armed Forces. From this moment on, the K2PL will truly begin to be ‘PL’. We are moving not only toward purchasing equipment, but above all toward technology transfer, the creation and maintenance of the capability to co-produce and service K2 tanks in Poland. I would like to thank everyone involved in the negotiations,” said Arkadiusz Bąk, First Vice-President of PGZ’s Management Board.
The agreement falls within the scope of the second executive contract signed on 1 August this year at the ZM Bumar-Łabędy headquarters between the Armament Agency and HRC. Executive Contract No. 2 provides for a technology transfer covering the establishment of production capability (final assembly) within Polish defence-industry companies, as well as obtaining full maintenance and sustainment capabilities for the tanks (Second executive contract for Hyundai Rotem K2 Black Panther tanks).
“Thanks to the agreement signed today, our company will acquire the technologies, tools and production equipment needed to launch a modern assembly line for K2PL tanks and accompanying vehicles in Poland. This is not only an investment in equipment, but above all in competences, knowledge and the future of Polish engineering. For our company, this project is more than just producing combat vehicles – it is the rebuilding of Bumar-Łabędy’s potential, which for decades has been the heart of Poland’s armoured-vehicle production,” said Monika Kruczek, President of ZM Bumar-Łabędy.
K2PL tanks, compared with the baseline configuration, will be fitted with additional protection, including an active protection system (APS), an anti-drone system, and enhanced armor. The vehicles will also be modified based on lessons learned from operating K2GF tanks (The Fourth Delivery of K2s and the Third of K9A1s to Poland This Year)
“We are proud to support the further localization of advanced defense technologies in Poland, ensuring that the competences and production capabilities of ZM Bumar-Łabędy and the entire PGZ Capital Group play a key role in the implementation of the K2PL program. This cooperation not only strengthens Poland’s defense potential but also builds lasting Polish-Korean industrial partnerships, contributing to the technological development and security of both countries. Hyundai Rotem is fully committed to working with Polish partners to deliver the K2PL tank and accompanying vehicles developed in Poland to the Polish Armed Forces,” said Jeong Yeob Lee, Senior Executive Vice-President and Head of the Defence Systems Division at Hyundai Rotem Company.
The agreement is a strategic step in rebuilding Poland’s defence-industrial capabilities. Through technology transfer and support from the Korean partner, Bumar-Łabędy will play a key role in creating a modern tank fleet for the Polish Armed Forces and in building long-term industrial advantage.
Other PGZ companies will also be invited to participate in the K2PL project.
🗣️ – To bardzo ważna umowa zarówno dla ZM Bumar-Łabędy oraz @hyundairotemeu, ale także dla całej Grupy Kapitałowej PGZ i Wojska Polskiego. Dziękuję wszystkim po stronie Grupy PGZ zaangażowanym w negocjacje – Arkadiusz Bąk, Pierwszy Wiceprezes @PGZ_pl.
📍 Warszawa pic.twitter.com/4sefWRhQQ8— Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa🇵🇱 (@PGZ_pl) October 28, 2025
ZM „BUMAR-ŁABĘDY” S.A. 🤝 @hyundairotemeu
✅ Umowa dotyczącą transferu technologii do produkcji czołgów #K2PL podpisana!
💥 ZMBŁ pozyska m. in. narzędzia i wyposażenie produkcyjne umożliwiające uruchomienie w Polsce linii montażowej czołgów K2PL oraz pojazdów towarzyszących. pic.twitter.com/Rzf65PjA9b
— Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa🇵🇱 (@PGZ_pl) October 28, 2025
🗣️ – Stawiamy dziś kluczowy krok w kierunku polonizacji czołgu K2. Od tego porozumienia K2PL zacznie faktycznie być „PL”. Idziemy w stronę transferu produkcji, współprodukowania oraz serwisowania czołgów K2 w Polsce – Arkadiusz Bąk, Pierwszy Wiceprezes @PGZ_pl.
📍Warszawa pic.twitter.com/7UxlR2DneX
— Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa🇵🇱 (@PGZ_pl) October 28, 2025
Umowa na transfer technologii do produkcji czołgów #K2PL pomiędzy Zakładami Mechanicznymi „BUMAR-ŁABĘDY” oraz Hyundai Rotem Company – podpisana! 🇵🇱🤝🇰🇷 @PGZ_pl pic.twitter.com/QSZbKaljQt
— Arek Protas (@arekprotas) October 28, 2025