South Korea: Important arms supplier for US allies near war

South Korea: Important arms supplier for US allies near war

Seoul, South Korea - Poland has entered into a contract to purchase a second batch of 180 South Korean tanks, based on a 2022 contract. This contract will allow Warsaw to strengthen its arsenal with almost 1,000 of these armored vehicles.

Poland as a major military power

The deal's conclusion highlights Poland's role as a major military force in Europe, as well as South Korea's position as a key arms supplier, particularly to U.S. allies, as wars around the world deplete American supplies. This comes at a time when Russia is stepping up its attacks on Ukraine, some of which are taking place just 100 miles from Poland's border with Ukraine.

Increasing defense spending in Poland

Warsaw has increased defense spending since Russia's invasion of Ukraine to acquire new weapons systems, while also supporting Kyiv in its defense. As a NATO member that borders Ukraine, Poland is seen as part of the alliance's first line of defense should Russian President Vladimir Putin expand his aggression beyond Ukraine.

Details of the arms deal

The Polish Ministry of Defense announced the tank deal, which has yet to be formally signed, in a post on social media platform X earlier this month. The price of the contract is $6.7 billion, including 80 support vehicles, ammunition and logistics and training packages for the Polish army. The deal includes the K2 main battle tanks, considered one of the most powerful in the world. According to South Korea's defense procurement agency DAPA, some of the units will be produced in South Korea by defense major Hyundai Rotem, while a production line will be set up in Poland for a Polish variant, the K2PL.

Sixty of the 180 tanks will be built in Poland, according to the Polish Defense Ministry's post on X. The first 30 of the South Korean-made tanks included in the new contract are expected to arrive in Poland next year.

Armament overview and support for Ukraine

In 2022, the two countries signed a contract that guaranteed Poland 180 K2 tanks. All but about 45 of these tanks have already been delivered, with the rest expected in Poland by the end of the year, Hyundai Rotem said. This contract is considered the largest defense deal South Korea has ever made abroad. In total, it includes 980 K2 tanks, 648 K9 self-propelled artillery howitzers and 48 FA-50 fighter jets, the Polish Defense Ministry said at the time. The armored vehicles are intended to partially replace the Soviet tanks that Poland donated to support Ukraine.

Poland's support for Ukraine

A Washington, D.C.-based Wilson Center report found that Poland has provided Ukraine with more than 300 tanks, as well as over 350 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. Poland has been under pressure in recent days after Russia increased its drone attacks on Ukraine. A Russian drone strike against the northwestern Ukrainian city of Lutsk was so intense that Warsaw had to send fighter planes into the air as a precaution. Lutsk is about 50 miles from the Polish border.

Defense spending is increasing dramatically

A NATO report in April highlighted that Poland is dramatically increasing its defense spending in the face of the Russian threat. Poland's defense spending increased from 2.7% of GDP in 2022 to an expected 4.7% in 2025. “Of all NATO partners, Poland is the one highest percentage of its GDP on defense,” the NATO report said.

Critical assessment of armaments financing

The Wilson Center report stated that Poland has “undoubtedly emerged as the most capable military power in Europe.” However, a May report from the RAND Corporation think tank raised concerns about financing the buildup of Poland's defense stockpile. Many of the purchases will be "financed through direct loans from the countries supplying the equipment," RAND explained, adding: "Should it be impossible to secure such loans, market financing terms may be too expensive to convert framework agreements into binding contracts." RAND also stressed that Poland faces recruiting challenges and needs to increase troop levels by nearly 50% over the next 10 years.

South Korea's role as an arms supplier

Meanwhile, South Korea has established itself as the world's 10th largest arms exporter over the past five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. During this period, Poland received 46% of South Korea's military exports, followed by the Philippines with 14% and India with 7%, as documented in the Trends in International Arms Transfers 2024 report. With the prolonged war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza, US military support for both countries has exhausted US arms stocks. South Korea is therefore increasingly seen as an option for US allies in need of weapons, report analysts at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC.

Prospects for the arms industry

The report highlights that South Korea's defense industry could be important to Washington in the future: "The increased capacity of South Korea's defense industry, particularly in defense and shipbuilding, has the potential to directly support the United States." Shipbuilding is seen as a particularly strong segment of South Korea's military industry, and Washington has already awarded contracts to South Korean shipyards to maintain U.S. Navy supply ships as the Navy struggles with a backlog at U.S. shipyards.

Along with the K2 tanks, South Korea has delivered a total of 174 K9 howitzers to Poland under the 2022 framework contract, with 38 howitzers still pending delivery, contractor Hanwha Aerospace said. A second tranche of 152 K9 howitzers is being planned, Hanwha reported. Of the 48 FA-50 jets ordered, only 12 have been delivered so far, according to manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries.