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Korea Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
S. Korea inks 2nd K2 tank export deal with Poland
Latest deal marks 'first large-scale arms export' after launch of new administration, says DAPA South Korea signed its second 'large-scale' deal to export a second batch of K2 tanks to Poland, the state arms procurement agency said Wednesday, amid growing calls for the country to tap its military manufacturing firms to navigate new global security challenges. 'Polish Minister of National Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz officially announced on July 2 that the negotiations for the second deal involving K2 tanks with Hyundai Rotem were finalized and set to be signed,' Seoul's Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a statement. The deal marks the country's "first large-scale arms export" after the launch of the Lee Jae Myung government in early June, DAPA noted. DAPA said the size and details of the deal would remain classified until a later time, but Seoul officials, declining to be named, said in June that the contract is expected to be worth around $6 billion. If confirmed, the figure would mark Seoul's biggest single arms export contract. The sources added that Poland will receive 180 K2 tanks under the new deal. Some 117 units would be manufactured by Korean defense contractor Hyundai Rotem, and the remaining would be produced by Poland's state-owned Polish Armaments Group. Seoul and Warsaw are currently negotiating the details of the signing ceremony, including its date and venue, according to DAPA. DAPA anticipates that the latest deal would allow Poland to receive some customized versions of K2 tanks "aligned with the demands of the Polish military," with the new partnership between Hyundai Rotem and PAG. A manufacturing facility for K2 tanks will be established in Poland as well, increasing the chance for additional deals to be smoothly negotiated and inked. The latest supply contract is part of a broader arms agreement reached between the two countries in 2022, which amounted to $13.7 billion and included a clause to supply 1,000 South Korean K2 tanks to Poland. Besides K2 tanks, Seoul agreed to supply the country with rocket launchers and fighter jets. The agreement came as Poland decided to increase its defense spending following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February that year. Later in 2022, Hyundai Rotem signed a deal worth around $3.3 billion to supply Poland with the first batch of 180 K2 tanks. The deal to supply the second batch was projected to be signed late last year, but was pushed back. Observers cited the political turmoil stemming from impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed Dec. 3 martial law bid as a major hurdle. DAPA on Wednesday, however, pointed to issues related to the "expanded scope of the deal" compared to the first as a reason behind the delay. "The deal was confirmed today as the negotiation period became prolonged due to the expanded scope of the deal and the scale of the project, by including plans involving the development of the Polish version of the K2 tanks and local manufacturing," it explained. In South Korea, there have been growing calls for the government to utilize its military manufacturing firms to navigate new security challenges and shifting demands posed by the NATO members' recent decision to raise defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product. 'With NATO members now committed to raising defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, demand for advanced weapons systems and defense technology is set to rise sharply,' the Asan Institute for Policy Studies said in a Monday report. 'To fully capitalize on these opportunities, South Korea should treat defense industry cooperation not simply as a commercial venture but as a core pillar of its broader security and alliance strategy." DAPA, nodding toward such calls, said, "The latest deal is expected to be a fresh momentum for the country's arms exports," with countries in Europe and NATO members. South Korean President Lee has picked the defense industry as one of the sectors that his administration plans to foster with expanded support. He aims to position his country among the world's top four arms exporters. In a phone call with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday, Lee agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in defense industries alongside advanced technologies and energy. The UAE, alongside Poland, is a major arms industry partner for South Korea. Meanwhile, South Korea's arms exports fell to $9.5 billion in 2024 after hitting a record high of $17.3 billion in 2022 and sliding to $13.5 billion in 2023.
Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland says GPS disruptions over Baltic could be related to Russia
FILE PHOTO: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo Poland says GPS disruptions over Baltic could be related to Russia WARSAW - Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, adding its sources suggest they were "related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions". The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection. "This may be Russia's answer to the Baltops exercises," Polish Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski told Reuters on Tuesday, referring to NATO's annual exercise in the Baltic Sea, which is being held this month. Jaworski said the disruptions had become more intense since the start of the NATO exercise. On Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern Polish city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of Poland due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said, without identifying the airline. "We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in NATO countries - both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries," Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, when asked about such incidents at a press conference about new helicopters. "These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions." He did not elaborate on the sources. Countries located on the Baltic Sea have reported numerous incidents since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, including power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence in the region. Estonia and Finland last year also blamed Russia for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Poland says GPS disruptions on Baltic could be related to Russia
FILE PHOTO: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, adding its sources suggest they were "related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions". The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection. And on Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of the country due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said. "We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in NATO countries - both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries," Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, when asked about such incidents at a press conference about new helicopters. "These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions." He did not elaborate on the sources. Countries located on the Baltic Sea have reported numerous incidents since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, including power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence in the region. Estonia and Finland last year also blamed Russia for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. (Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Alison Williams)
Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Poland says GPS disruptions on Baltic could be related to Russia
FILE PHOTO: Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz speaks at the joint press conference on the day of the meeting of the European Group of Five Defence Ministers at the Italian Air Force Headquarters in Rome, Italy May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo Poland says GPS disruptions on Baltic could be related to Russia WARSAW - Poland has been observing GPS disruptions over the Baltic Sea, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, adding its sources suggest they were "related to the actions of the Russian Federation, including sabotage actions". The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Polish media have reported cases of GPS malfunction in the north of the country, including private drones flying away in unknown directions or losing connection. And on Monday, a flight from Alicante in Spain to the northern city of Bydgoszcz was redirected to Poznan in the west of the country due to navigation problems, a Bydgoszcz airport spokesperson said. "We are observing these disruptions. They are also observed over the Baltic Sea area by our allies in NATO countries - both in the Baltic states and the Nordic countries," Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists, when asked about such incidents at a press conference about new helicopters. "These actions are related, according to our sources, to the actions of the Russian Federation, also to sabotage actions." He did not elaborate on the sources. Countries located on the Baltic Sea have reported numerous incidents since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, including power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence in the region. Estonia and Finland last year also blamed Russia for jamming GPS navigation devices in the region's airspace. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
NATO Scrambles Jets Over 'Dangerous' Russian Bomber Maneuvers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Two NATO members have accused Russia of provocation along the alliance's eastern flank. Poland said on Thursday that its fighter jets had intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber that performed "dangerous" maneuvers in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The next day, Finland said it was investigating whether Russian aircraft had breached the NATO member's airspace. Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment. Polish Air Force F-16 fighters take part in a NATO exercise on July 4, 2023. Polish Air Force F-16 fighters take part in a NATO exercise on July 4, It Matters Alliance members bordering the Baltic, which has been dubbed a "NATO Lake," have accused Moscow of high-risk behavior around its airspace. The latest accusations raise fears of miscalculation and test the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense clause. What To Know Polish defense minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Thursday Warsaw's fighter jets intercepted a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. He called the Russian actions "dangerous and intentional" and said that Polish pilots detected, intercepted, and forced the bomber to withdraw from the area. The encounter took place between Poland and Lithuania near Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave from where Moscow's military aircraft frequently fly. Russian pilots often disable their transponders, do not file flight plans, and do not notify regional air traffic control, which NATO officials have described as high-risk behavior. On Friday, Finnish defense minister Antti Häkkänen said that two Russian military aircraft are suspected of violating Finnish airspace off the coast of Porvoo. Häkkänen said the Finnish Border Guard is investigating the incident and without providing any more details, added, "we take the suspected territorial violation seriously." Finland shares an 800-mile border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023 following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The alliance has raised the alarm over an increasing number of incidents inside or near its airspace. Estonia said that a Russian military jet violated its airspace on May 13 after the Estonian Navy tried to stop the tanker Jaguar, believed to be in Moscow's shadow fleet that circumvents oil sanctions. What People Are Saying Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen: "We take the suspected territorial violation seriously and an investigation is underway." Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz: "Maneuvers performed by the Russian Su-24…were dangerous and intentional." What Happens Next Adding to NATO concerns is the latest warning of a Russian military buildup next to the border of Finland. Finnish defense forces' head of strategy Major General Sami Nurmi said Thursday that Russia's military had started "moderate preparations" on infrastructure close to the Finnish border. Finnish military analyst Emil Kastehelmi told Newsweek this month that Helsinki is investing significantly more in defense to deal with the potential threat. "Continuous development and preparation work is underway, which boosts the deterrence of Finland and the whole northeastern flank of NATO," he added.
