It has been revealed that South Korea completed defense exports to Poland last year surpassing 1.5 trillion won, including FA-50 light combat aircraft and K9 self-propelled howitzers.
With the addition of such large-scale defense exports, Poland has swiftly emerged as South Korea’s fifth-largest trade surplus country, following the United States, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and India.
According to the trade statistics system “K-stat” from the Korea International Trade Association on Jan. 17, South Korea’s exports to Poland last year amounted to US$9.02 billion, marking a 14.8 percent increase compared to the previous year.
This growth in exports to Poland last year was primarily driven by the defense industry. South Korea’s total defense exports were recorded at US$1.17 billion. The figure was 184 percent higher than the previous year’s exports of US$413 million when large-scale weapon exports to Poland began in earnest. The export amount last year surpassed 1.5 trillion won.
Last year, weapon exports, including items like the K9 self-propelled howitzer and K2 Black Panther tank in the defense export sector, reached US$649 million, representing 56.9 percent growth compared to the previous year.
Earlier in 2022, the Polish government signed a basic agreement with South Korean defense companies such as Hyundai Rotem, Hanwha Aerospace, and KAI, for the purchase of various weapons. The agreement includes acquiring 980 units of the K2 tank, 648 units of the K9 self-propelled howitzer, 48 units of the FA-50 light combat aircraft, and 288 units of the Chunmoo self-propelled multiple launch rocket system.
Following the basic agreement, the Polish government entered into individual first-purchase contracts with each company. The delivery process has commenced in consecutive order since the second half of 2022, starting with ground weapons such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer. It is steadily increasing South Korea’s weapon exports to Poland.
After the basic agreement, the Polish government entered into the first purchase contracts with each company. The delivery process has commenced consecutively since the second half of 2022, starting with ground weapons such as the K9 self-propelled howitzer. As a result, South Korea’s weapon exports to Poland are showing steady growth.
Especially with the confirmed size of the first contracts alone totaling US$12.4 billion following the basic agreement with Poland, the industry forecasts a sustained strong performance in the export results of South Korean defense companies to Poland in the future.
KAI alone plans to develop the remaining 36 units of the FA-50GF, excluding the 12 units delivered last year, into the form of the FA-50PL to meet the requirements of the Polish Air Force. Additional deliveries of the units are scheduled from 2025 to 2028.