That puts it squarely among the world’s top 10 arms exporters—alongside names like France, Russia, and the United States.
The speed of this shift isn’t just a story of volume.
When Warsaw signed a $13.7 billion deal in 2022 for Korean tanks, howitzers, and fighter jets, it was more than a procurement move—it was a signal.
Poland had a choice between slow, expensive NATO suppliers or South Korea’s “ready-now” offerings.
It set a new standard for what frontline European states were willing to pay for—and who they’d buy from.
Korean defense companies aren't tied to Washington’s ITAR regime, meaning they can sell to countries the U.S. might delay or block. »