{"id":2993219,"date":"2023-12-04T11:10:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T16:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platoaistream.com\/plato-data\/polands-outgoing-defense-chief-drops-2-6-billion-on-hanwha-howitzers\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T11:10:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T16:10:53","slug":"polands-outgoing-defense-chief-drops-2-6-billion-on-hanwha-howitzers","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platoaistream.com\/plato-data\/polands-outgoing-defense-chief-drops-2-6-billion-on-hanwha-howitzers\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland\u2019s outgoing defense chief drops $2.6 billion on Hanwha howitzers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WARSAW, Poland \u2014 Poland\u2019s outgoing National Defence Minister Mariusz B\u0142aszczak has signed what is likely the last major weapon acquisition contract inked before the nation\u2019s forthcoming change in government, ordering some 152 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea\u2019s Hanwha Defense.<\/p>\n

Under the deal, Poland\u2019s Army will receive six K9A1 and 146 K9PL howitzers in the years 2025 to 2027. The contract has a net value of some $2.6 billion, the Polish Armed Forces said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe deal also includes a training and logistics package, and the delivery of a substantial stockpile of 155mm ammunition, comprising several tens of thousands of units,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

To enable the future production of\u00a0K9PL howitzers in Poland<\/a>, Hanwha Defense has signed an agreement with the country\u2019s state-run defense group PGZ.<\/p>\n

Last October, Poland\u2019s opposition won the country\u2019s general election. Since then, a coalition of center-right, liberal and left-wing parties has taken over control in the parliament. A new Cabinet is expected to be sworn in by the end of the year, replacing rule by the right-wing Law and Justice party that implemented an unprecedented spending spree on defense gear in the aftermath of Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, some politicians from the parties that are readying to form the new government are criticizing the ministry\u2019s latest move.<\/p>\n

Pawe\u0142 Bejda, a lawmaker for the Polish People\u2019s Party, stated the acquisition could be detrimental to the domestic production of the Krab<\/a>, a self-propelled howitzer manufactured by PGZ. To make the Krab\u2019s chassis, PGZ\u2019s subsidiary Huta Stalowa Wola purchased a license for the technology used in the chassis of the K9 Thunder howitzer from Hanwha Defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the deals whose implementation will be the responsibility of the new government should be signed by that government,\u201d Bejda said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.<\/p>\n

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Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n