On Thursday, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak announced the start of production of South Korean K2 tanks, which have already been put into service with the Polish army, at the Military Automobile Plant (WZM) in Poznan. PAP reports.

"Here, at the Military Automobile Plant in Poznań, K2 tanks will be serviced, overhauled and produced. This is good news for Poznań… These are adding new jobs, this is the preservation of those jobs that were created at WZM," Blaszczak said during a visit to Poznań.

The production of tanks became possible after the conclusion of an agreement with South Korea last year, which provides for the transfer of not only machines but also production technologies - in particular, the hydropneumatic chassis used in the K2.

As reported, in August 2022, Poland concluded an agreement with South Korea on purchasing 180 K2 Black Panther tanks produced by Hyundai Rotem of about $3.4 billion, as well as 212 self-propelled howitzers K9 Thunder produced by Hanhwa Defense of about $2.4 billion.

The contract also provides a technical and training package and ammunition for the purchased equipment.

The first tanks arrived in Poland in December 2022. A total of 180 K2s are expected, and another 820 will be produced jointly with a South Korean company in Poland.