The Polish army was enriched with further modern K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea. The transportation included 12 machines that would shortly scope the 16th Mechanized Division. This information was provided by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence, Paweł Bejda, stressing that Poland has consistently strengthened its defence capabilities.
The number of K2 Black Panther tanks in Poland is approaching 100. The Army is already intensively training its tankers, preparing them for the operation of modern equipment, which will importantly increase the fighting possible of the Polish Army.
It is worth reminding that Poland and South Korea are presently finalising a second contract for the acquisition of another 180 K2 tanks. If the transaction takes place, the full number of these vehicles in the Polish army will be 360. The contract's value is estimated at about $6.2 billion.
K2 Black Panther is simply a South Korean base tank. He is the successor of K1, but he does not replace him completely, and supplements him, eliminating older M47 and M48 wagons. Work on the fresh tank began in 1993, inspired by French Leclerc, which is reflected, among others, in the usage of a charging machine.
The tank was built in a classical plan strategy with a driving compartment at the front, a combat compartment in the mediate and a drive compartment at the rear. The driver uses 3 periscopes and a thermoscope, and the vehicle drives a volt utilizing a stepless gearbox. In the C4 strategy (Command, Control, Communication and Computer), operators have access to their own position and their opponent in real time.
The main weapon is simply a smooth-bore Hyundai cannon WIA CN08 cal. 120 mm (55 calibers), based on German Rheinmetal. It can shoot K276 missiles – APFSDS and K277 – HEAT, as well as a wide scope of NATO missiles, with a velocity of 10–15 shots per minute.
The fire control strategy allows to operate in hunter-killer mode. The tank armor is created from an advanced composite structure, and the passive protection strategy uses ERA modules (Explosive Reactive Armour). Additionally, an active KAPS (Korean Active Protection System) protection strategy was utilized to defend against cumulative grenades and anti-tank guided missiles.
The cost of 1 K2 Black Panther is about $8.3 million. The latest version of the K2 PIP includes improved semi-active suspension, advanced resolution terrain scanning strategy and non-explosive reactive armor.
Poland signed a memorandum on the acquisition of 180 K2 tanks in June 2022 and the first 10 units went to the country in December of the same year. In July 2022 an agreement was signed on the transportation of 180 K2 tanks and 820 K2PL versions, which will be produced under licence in Poland from 2026.
In March 2023, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hyundai Rot to produce K2PL in Poznań. The construction of a production plant is planned, which will besides be a European sales and service centre for Korean armored vehicles.
K2 Black Panther is 1 of the most modern tanks in the world. Their appearance in Poland is part of a broad program of modernization of the armed forces, which besides includes deliveries of American Abrams tanks. These investments increase the country's defence capacity and strengthen global cooperation, crucial in current geopolitical realities.
