Poland’s government signed contracts on Wednesday for the supply and/or licensed production in the country of heavy weapons and aircraft from South Korea, including about a thousand K2 main battle tanks, some 650 K9 155mm self-propelled guns as well as 48 FA- 50, during an official ceremony in Warsaw.
The cost of acquiring this equipment for the Polish armed forces was not disclosed. According to Korean media, the expenditure will amount to several billion dollars.
“We are drawing lessons from what is happening in Ukraine,” Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told reporters, referring to Russia’s February 24 invasion, after signing contracts with representatives of Korea Aerospace Industries and Hyundai groups. “Time is pressing, the Polish army must be equipped,” he added.
According to the Polish Ministry of Defense, the first 12 of the 48 FA-50s (these are trainer/light fighter-bombers developed by KAI and Lockheed Martin, based on the F-16) will be delivered to the Polish Air Force in 2023. They will replace Soviet-designed aircraft, notably the MiG-29, and enter service alongside F-16s and, later, F-35s that Poland has ordered from the US.
The first 180 main battle tanks will be delivered this year, Mr Blaszczak told Polish news agency PAP. The second batch, consisting of 800 tanks, will be partly produced in Poland.
In addition, the Polish armed forces will receive 48 K9s starting this year, to replace the howitzers offered to Ukraine. Another 600 will be received in 2024 and in 2026 they will start production in Poland.
KAI also plans to progressively transfer FA-50 production to Poland in the future.
Poland, an EU and NATO member that neighbors Ukraine, is among Kiev’s main political and military backers. The government of the former Warsaw Pact member state has announced a major arms program because of the Russian threat. It announced the purchases of 32 Leonardo AW149 helicopters (Italy), 366 Abrams main battle tanks (USA) and CAMM iLauncher surface-to-air missile systems produced by the European consortium MBDA.
Source: Capital
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