Poland to purchase South Korean tanks, armored combat vehicles: Defense minister

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Poland will purchase South Korean-made battle tanks and armored combat vehicles, the Polish defense minister said.

They will include “infantry fighting vehicles, which will complement the Borsuk IFV, howitzers and K2 tanks,” Mariusz Blaszczak said at a meeting with senior commanders from the land forces and the officers from the Defense Ministry on Monday.

“In the near future, we will sign contracts for deliveries, including mine destroyers, ZSSW remotely controlled turret systems integrated with Rosomak transporters, AW149 multi-role support helicopters, 2 observation satellites and tank destroyers," Blaszczak said.

About Russia’s war in Ukraine, the defense minister said: “We were right when we warned against Russia.”

“We draw conclusions from what is happening in Ukraine,” he added.

Blaszczak said that Poland is on the course of establishing new land forces units and purchasing modern weapons, including Patriot air defense systems, F-35 fighter jets, M1A2 Abrams tanks and high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) from the US, and Bayraktar armed drones from Türkiye, among other weapon systems.

On April 5, the country inked a contract worth nearly $4.75 billion to buy 250 MA12 SEP battle tanks from the US, following a December 2020 agreement with Washington for 32 F-35 jets.