AEI Fellow, Contributing to FP
Analysts say that the Korean K2 tank is attracting attention as an alternative to fill the void, as Europe’s tank inventory has plummeted due to large-scale arms support for Ukraine, and Germany has shown chaotic moves in the process of supporting Ukraine for its main tank Leopard 2. came out
Blake Herzinger, a researcher in Indo-Pacific defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a representative conservative think tank in the United States, wrote an article in Foreign Policy (FP) on the 30th (local time). Controversy drew attention to South Korea’s K2 tank, saying that European defense partners were looking for a ‘new alternative’.
Herzinger, in an article titled ‘Korea can sweep the European tank market’, mentioned that Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defense had won large-scale arms contracts with Poland. It is a way to secure tanks much faster and at a competitive price.” Poland plans to form a consortium with Korean companies to produce the K2PL, a Polish improved model of the K2, and the K9PL, a Polish self-propelled howitzer.
Last year, Poland signed large-scale arms supply contracts with Korean defense companies, including 1,000 K2 tanks, 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers, 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft, and 288 Cheonmu multiple rocket launchers. On December 6, right following the initial shipments of K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers arrived in Poland, the takeover ceremony was attended by an unusually large number of high-ranking government officials, including Polish President Andrzej Duda and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Bułashcak. It is also quite unusual that the first shipment arrived in the country only four months following the contract was signed.
Analysts say that Poland hastened to introduce South Korean weapons to fill the vacuum caused by large-scale arms aid to Ukraine. Poland, which has rapidly expanded its armed forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, announced on the same day that it would increase its defense budget to 4 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year. If this plan is realized, Poland’s defense budget relative to its economy will be the largest among NATO allies.
Herzinger said Turkey, Slovakia and Norway are also discussing with South Korea for the introduction of K2 tanks. commented. He said that it is unlikely that the whole of Europe will immediately turn to buying Korean tanks because of the South Korean government’s sensitivity to Russia. He pointed out that being there is a strength.
