Poland expected to buy S.Korean rocket launchers after tank, howitzer sales

HYUNDAI ROTEM

19/10/2022 06:32

By Soo-hyang Choi
       SEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Poland is set to buy rocket
launchers in its latest arms deal with South Korea, following
shipments of tanks and howitzers, as it ramps up arms imports
after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, South Korean officials said
on Wednesday.
    Poland is expected to sign a deal with Hanwha Defense, the
defence unit of South Korea's Hanwha Corp  000880.KS  this week,
to buy K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, officials said.
    Under the contract, South Korea will supply 288 multiple
rocket launchers worth $6 billion, the Yonhap news agency
reported. 
    Hanwha Defense declined to confirm the details of the
contract when contacted by Reuters, saying the deal had yet to
be closed. 
    "The contract could be signed as early as this week," an
industry source said on condition of anonymity.
    The expected agreement comes as South Korean companies
shipped the first batch of tanks and howitzers to Poland.
    The two countries signed a $5.8 billion contract in Warsaw
in July in a deal that Poland said was a key part of its effort
to beef up its military following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
    The Feb. 24 invasion, which Russia calls a "special military
operation," has raised security fears among many former eastern
bloc countries, and NATO member Poland has vowed to boost
defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product and to more
than double the size of its army.
    Hyundai Rotem Co.  064350.KS  said its first shipment
included 10 K2 Black Panther tanks, among 180 to be delivered by
2025. Hanwha Defense said it was sending 24 units of K9
self-propelled howitzers, among 212 to be shipped by 2026.
    Poland has also agreed to buy 48 FA-50 fighter jets from
South Korea. Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland's defence minister, said
in a July media interview the aircraft would be delivered next
year.  
 (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi)
 ((soohyang.choi@thomsonreuters.com;))