Korea's Hanwha signs $2.6 billion arms deal with Poland

SEOUL, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace said Monday it has signed a $2.6 billion deal to deliver 152 K9 self-propelled howitzers to Poland by 2027.

Under the contract, the firm will also provide Poland's Armaments Agency with 155mm artillery ammunition and logistics support for the K9 howitzers.

The Seoul-based company plans to work with Poland to manufacture the parts needed to maintain the K9s in Poland.

The total value of the agreement is 50% more than Hanwha Aerospace's record-setting sales performance last year of $5 billion.

This is not the first time that Korean defense firms have inked large deals with Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

In August 2022, Hanwha Aerospace won a contract to supply 212 K9 howitzers and 218 Chunmoo launchers to Poland.

During the same month, Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, announced a deal to ship a total of 180 K2PL, a variant of its K2 Black Panther tank, to Poland by 2025.

A month later, Poland signed a contract to import 48 units of FA-50 light-attack jets from the Korea Aerospace Industries. FA-50 is a variant of the training jet T-50 co-developed with Lockheed Martin.

""Working on established contracts, we will work toward building a lasting mutual trust with Poland," Hanwha Aerospace said in a statement.

Military observers caution that regime change in Poland could impact arms imports.

Recently, the pro-European Union opposition parties succeeded in forming a coalition, winning a majority in the Oct. 15 generation election in Poland.