Peru to Purchase 150 South Korean K2 Black Panther Tanks

Peru’s Technical and Operational Analysis Committee has identified the South Korean K2 Black Panther tank as the best option for procurement by the Army.

This was reported by the specialized publication Defensa.

In the competitive selection process, the South Korean tank outperformed the German Leopard 2A6, the American M1A1/A2 Abrams, the Chinese VT-4, as well as proposals from Poland and Turkey.

The procurement program calls for the purchase of 150 tanks to replace the obsolete T-55 and AMX-13 models, which have been in service for over 50 years. The first 46 tanks will be manufactured in South Korea, while the remainder are planned to be assembled at a facility in Peru.

The construction of the plant is part of Hyundai Rotem’s proposal, which calls for an investment of $270 million and the use of 30% local components.

As a reminder, last year the Peruvian Army signed a framework agreement with Hyundai Rotem regarding technological cooperation and the possible joint assembly of K2 tanks and K808 armored personnel carriers.

According to Defence Blog, on July 11, the cargo ship GLOVIS SAFETY delivered at least two K2 tanks and six K808 vehicles to the port of Callao for testing under local climatic conditions.