Arms agency chief urges Poland for signing of additional K2 tank deal

South Korea's arms procurement agency chief has urged Poland for the swift signing of a contract to purchase additional South Korean K2 main battle tanks, his office said Thursday. Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Seok Jong-gun made the request as he met Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda on the sidelines of the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland's southern city of Kielce on Tuesday, according to the agency. In August 2022, South Korean defense company Hyundai Rotem Co. signed a deal worth 4.49 trillion won (US$3.35 billion) with the Polish armament agency to supply an initial batch of 180 K2 tanks, a month after signing a preliminary contract for a total of 1,000 units. The two sides have yet to sign a follow-up deal for the remaining units amid financing issues. During the talks, Seok outlined efforts to cooperate in local production, technology transfers as well as maintenance, repair and operation of K2 tanks, and the two sides reached a shared und erstanding for the need to sign a deal, DAPA said. If a follow-up deal is confirmed, some of the tanks are expected to be built in Poland. Seok also vowed to support efforts for further arms industry cooperation with Poland, including submarines. Defense industry ties between South Korea and Poland have deepened since Warsaw signed procurement deals worth a total of $12.3 billion with South Korean defense companies in 2022 to buy K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers. Source: Yonhap News Agency