On Monday, March 10, 2025, Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda, responsible for overseeing the technical modernization of the Polish Armed Forces, announced on social media that a shipment from the Republic of Korea had arrived in Poland with the second delivery in 2025 of K2GF Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) tanks, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem.
Photos: Paweł Bejda via X
“Black Panthers on the offensive! A new delivery of 12 K2 tanks has already arrived in Poland – soon they will be in the hands of professionals – Polish tank crews from the 16th Mechanized Division,” wrote a Ministry of National Defense official on the social media platform X.
The first K2GF tank delivery of this year took place on February 21 and included 14 units. Now, with the latest shipment, the total number of these tanks delivered to Poland has increased to 110. The deliveries are being carried out under the first contract, signed on August 26, 2022, worth 3.37 billion USD net (15.98 billion PLN net / 19.65 billion PLN gross) for 180 tanks. This means that the remaining 68 vehicles are expected to arrive in the country later this year.
Meanwhile, on March 9, 2025, the South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing government officials in Seoul, reported that the second contract for tanks for Poland is expected no earlier than April this year. It would include an additional 180 tanks and, according to previous reports, 81 support vehicles, all within the framework agreement for a total of 1,000 K2GF/PL tanks.
Earlier, on November 14 of last year, the first vehicles of this type were delivered to the 9th Braniewo Armored Cavalry Brigade, part of the 16th Mechanized Division, where they will replace PT-91 Twardy tanks.
The K2 Black Panther is a South Korean 3+ generation main battle tank. Its primary armament is a 120 mm smoothbore gun with an autoloader, 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 (HMG). The tank’s advanced fire control system ensures high accuracy at long distances. The K2’s armor, even in its standard configuration, provides high ballistic and mine resistance 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 hp diesel engine with an automatic transmission, ensuring high speed and mobility in all terrains. It has a relatively low weight of 55 tons and features a hydropneumatic suspension system.
It’s worth noting that so far, the Polish Armed Forces have also received 144 Abrams tanks from the 366 ordered, including 116 M1A1FEP and 28 M1A2SEPv3. Talks are also ongoing regarding the co-production of additional Abrams tanks in Poland. Poland’s tank fleet also includes 105 Leopard 2A5 tanks and modernized Leopard 2PL/M1 tanks, which are upgraded Leopard 2A4s. Out of 128 units planned for modernization, 62 have been delivered, with an option for 14 more under the contract. However, the same number (14) was transferred to war-torn Ukraine.
Czarne Pantery w natarciu❗️Nowa dostawa złożona z 12 czołgów K2 już w Polsce – już za chwilę będą w rękach zawodowców – polskich czołgistów z @16Dywizja @MON_GOV_PL @AgencjaUzbr @WarNewsPL1 @Defence24pl pic.twitter.com/SbvfhXKHzG
— Paweł Bejda (@pawelbejda) March 10, 2025