By Olha Hembik | 2025-08-29

WARSAW -- Poland is betting big on tanks -- so big that by 2030 it will have more armored vehicles than Britain, Germany, France and Italy combined.

On August 1, ahead of Armed Forces Day, Warsaw signed a contract worth more than €6 billion with South Korea to buy 180 K2 tanks, 61 of them to be manufactured in Poland. The deal will boost Poland's fleet to 1,100 tanks, surpassing the combined total of its four Western European allies, according to Euronews.

The expansion reflects Warsaw's push to harden its defenses amid Russia's war in Ukraine and the ongoing crisis along the Poland-Belarus border.

Turkey currently leads NATO's European members with 2,238 tanks, followed by Greece with 1,344. Poland would rank third once deliveries begin in 2026 and 2027.

The agreement also includes 81 support vehicles, training, maintenance, repair facilities and technology transfer. It follows earlier purchases of 116 Abrams tanks in 2023, with another 250 on order.

New tank deal

"We are restoring tank production in Poland!" Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X on the day the contract was signed. "This is significant for the security of our homeland and for our defense industry."

Production of 61 K2PL tanks will begin next year in Gliwice, using Polish components at the Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy plant, the Defense Ministry said. Full-scale output is planned for 2028–30.

According to Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defense, Gliwice has always been the "capital of armored vehicles," and former capabilities are being restored.

"This is our shared success... tied to the security of the whole of Poland," he said.

Retired officer Jerzy Mazur, a military expert, told Kontur that the contract will strengthen both the army and the economy, aligning with Europe's broader effort to expand arms production in response to Russia's war in Ukraine.

As an added bonus, the agreement will create repair bases for servicing the armored vehicle fleet, training centers and logistics chains.

"In essence, Poland is taking on the role of NATO's 'armored fist,' presenting itself as a key land force in the alliance and signaling that the eastern flank is securely protected," Mazur said.

Along with the Shield East deterrence and defense system, designed to protect the European Union's eastern borders, the new production will "strengthen Poland’s role in regional military policy."

High cost of an attack

Valeriy Pekar, an entrepreneur and lecturer at Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, warned Russia could strike the EU when it is least prepared, dismissing predictions of calm until 2030.

"Russia will not wait for Europe to prepare for a Russian strike. There will be no repeat of the 2022 war," he told Kontur.

Pekar predicted Russia might use surprise tactics against Poland to cripple the EU, arguing an attack on the Baltics alone would not achieve its goals.

He added that Russia has been quietly probing European nations for vulnerabilities for years, drawing lessons from its Ukraine campaign.

Pekar cited recent incidents, such as widespread power outages in Spain, arson attacks on military vehicles in Belgium and Germany and fires in Poland, as evidence of Russia testing EU preparedness and seeking weaknesses.

Mazur asserted that Russia responds only to troop deployments and direct countermeasures.

"With our weapons and tanks, we'll speak a language Russia understands, showing our strength," he said.

Poland's modern tank fleet, combined with the East Shield program, will create a robust land barrier against potential aggressors, according to Mazur.

He described the new tanks as a major upgrade, equipped with advanced combat management systems, thermal imagers, and cutting-edge electronics.

"Any attack will come at a steep cost," he added.

Lessons from Ukraine

According to former Polish Deputy Minister of Labor Piotr Kulpa, Ukraine is setting new military standards as it repels Russia's aggressive attack. He believes the country could become a "guarantor of European security."

"Without Ukraine's combat experience, relying on expensive equipment is a mistake," he told Kontur, stressing that tanks worth millions of dollars could become "easy targets for cheap drones."

Kulpa pointed to Ukraine's success with Magura V5 naval drones, which have destroyed major Russian warships and forced the Black Sea Fleet to retreat eastward.

He praised the country's innovative military, which uses unmanned aerial vehicles, produces its own cruise and ballistic missiles and relies on satellite data.

Ukraine's Armed Forces have created a unique style of next-generation warfare, unlike traditional Western militaries, according to Kulpa.

He stressed that the country is now "shaping a new security architecture in Europe" and can strengthen Poland's armed forces with its practical experience.

Meanwhile, Poland is bolstering its defenses with purchases of Abrams tanks, Apache helicopters, HIMARS artillery systems and Patriot missile defense systems from the United States, Euro news reported.

In 2026, the country will increase its defense spending to 4.8 percent of GDP, Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski told journalists after a cabinet meeting on August 28.