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Dongjoon Yoo, Minister of Defense in South Korea and Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of Defense in Poland
Photo: Leszek Syzmanski/EPA
Against the background of the Ukraine war, Poland continues to build up its military.
Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed framework agreements on Wednesday for a large supply and production of heavy military equipment from South Korea.
The agreements provide for Poland to receive around a thousand main battle tanks, around 650 howitzers and 48 combat aircraft.
Both sides did not provide information on the total volume of the arms deal.
After the signing of the treaties, Blaszczak said Poland was learning the lessons of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
"Time is short, we must equip the Polish army."
According to the Defense Ministry, the first FA-50 military aircraft should be delivered to Poland next year.
Among other things, they are intended to replace the Soviet-designed Mig-29 jets, which are still used by the Polish Air Force alongside US-made fighter jets.
The South Korean armaments group Korea Aerospace Industries announced that it would gradually relocate the production of the FA-50 fighter jets to Poland.
Disagreement with Germany
The Hyundai Rotem group supplies Poland with K2-type main battle tanks, and in a second step a version adapted to the needs of the Polish army will be developed.
Production of the K2PL tanks is scheduled to start in Poland in 2026.
The same applies to the K9 howitzers.
In the past few months, NATO member Poland had already ordered more than 300 US tanks, surface-to-air missile systems from the European consortium MBDA and more than 30 Italian-made military helicopters.
A planned exchange of armored rings with Germany is causing upsets between Warsaw and Berlin.
In the ring exchange procedure, eastern allies of Ukraine are to provide easy-to-operate Soviet-design tanks.
In return, Germany promised the NATO partners modern equipment as a replacement.
However, Poland's President Andrzej Duda has repeatedly accused the federal government of not keeping its promises.
till/AFP