Kielce: Hyundai Rotem Co., South Korea's sole tank manufacturer, announced that it will unveil a localized mock-up of its K2 tank for Poland this week. This follows a significant 8.98 trillion-won (US$6.5 billion) deal last month to export the K2 tank to the Eastern European nation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the company plans to showcase the K2PL main battle tank (MBT) during the 33rd MSPO International Defense Industry Exhibition, scheduled for September 2-5 in Kielce, Poland. This unveiling is part of a larger agreement, signed in early August, to supply a second batch of K2 tanks to Poland's defense contractor.

Under the terms of the agreement, Poland is set to receive 180 K2 tanks and 81 support vehicles. This contract follows a previous 4.5 trillion-won deal in 2022 for the first batch of 180 K2 tanks, aligning with Warsaw's significant armament efforts in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Of the latest order, 116 K2GF MBTs will be constructed in South Korea by 2027. The remaining 64, designated as K2PL MBTs, are planned to be produced in Poland at a facility operated by Bumar, a defense company under the state-owned PGZ. This production will mark the first instance of the K2 being manufactured in Poland.

"Trial production of three K2PL MBTs will begin in South Korea in 2028, with full-scale production of the remaining units slated to start at Bumar's plant in 2029," a company spokesperson confirmed.