Poland leads NATO in defense spending: set to have largest tank fleet in Europe by 2030
Illustrative photo: Poland to have the largest tank fleet in Europe by 2030 (GettyImages)
Poland has signed a contract with South Korea to purchase 180 K2 tanks. This will bring the country's total tank fleet to over 1,100, more than the combined number in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy, according to Euronews.
According to the report, the contract is worth over £6 billion. The deal marks the latest step in Poland’s military expansion, driven by the war in Ukraine and the ongoing crisis on the Belarusian border since 2021.
Currently, Poland allocates 4.7% of its GDP to defense, the highest proportion among all NATO members.
"[This is] a great deal for the security of our homeland, for our arms industry. The agreement begins the process of restoring tank production in our country," Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote in a post on X.
Once completed, Poland will possess a total of 1,100 tanks, more than the combined fleets of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and France, which collectively have 950 tanks. Only two NATO countries, Türkiye and Greece, will have more tanks than Poland after the contract is fulfilled.
Türkiye currently has 2,238 tanks, and Greece has 1,344.
"Poland's purchase of tanks from South Korea began in 2022, which the then Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak described as 'a win-win situation' for both countries," the article notes.
Poland has previously purchased K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and K9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea, Euronews reports.
In addition, Poland acquired Abrams tanks, Apache attack helicopters, HIMARS systems, and Patriot missile defense systems from the United States. During his first official visit, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Poland a "model NATO ally."
Alongside the 180 tanks, the new contract also includes 81 support vehicles, personnel training, maintenance and repair programs, and technology transfer.
Recently, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland intends to increase the number of troops along its border with Belarus.
He later clarified that Poland aims to implement the Eastern Shield project, which involves fortifying the country’s borders with Russia and Belarus.
