Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced on Friday (July 22) Poland would sign a contract with South Korea to purchase K2 Black Panther tanks, K9 howitzers and three squadrons of FA-50 fighter jets. First howitzers and tanks are to arrive in Poland already this year, whereas first planes - in 2023, the minister added.
Next week Poland will buy 48 FA-50 fighter jets, a first instalment of 180 K2 Black Panther tanks and howitzers from South Korea, Warsaw's defence minister said at a press briefing on Friday, as the country strengthens its army because of the war in Ukraine.
"Our goal is to deter aggressors and strenghten Polish Army to as big a scale as possible," Błaszczak said.
He added the deal was a result of his visit to Seoul this year and talks with South-Korean defence minister.
"This year, the first units will be delivered and in total there will be 180 (K2 Black Panther) tanks in the first order; ultimately, these tanks will be produced in Poland," Mariusz Błaszczak said in an extract from an interview with conservative weekly Sieci published online.
Błaszczak said Poland would also buy howitzers and and three squadrons of FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea. A squadron usually consists of 16 planes.
"We are interested in purchasing three squadrons, that is 48 aircraft," Błaszczak said. "The first aircraft would be delivered to Poland next year."
The K2 Black Panther tank is made by Hyundai Rotem . The FA-50 fighter jet is produced by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
The Feb. 24 invasion, which Moscow calls a "special military operation" has raised security fears among many former eastern bloc countries, and NATO member Poland has vowed to boost defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) and more than double the size of its army to deter any attacks.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP