As part of the modernization process of its armored cavalry, the Peruvian Army has selected the K2 Black Panther combat vehicle. The agreement, announced yesterday between the Peruvian Army’s Weapons and Ammunition Factory (FAME SAC) and Hyundai Rotem, the tank’s developer, aims to replace the veteran T-55s that are still in service.
According to an official statement from Hyundai, the agreement was signed on November 16 with the presence of Lee Yong-bae, president of Hyundai Rotem, and Jorge Zapata, General Director of FAME. The agreement, titled “General Cooperation Agreement in Ground Equipment,” aims to lay the foundations for the provision of ground armament, including the K2 tanks and wheeled armored vehicles.
Subsequently, the general agreement will be followed by new contracts that will define details such as delivery dates, technical specifications, training, and maintenance conditions. It is worth noting that Hyundai Rotem entered the South American market for the first time last May, after securing a contract to supply 8×8 K808 Wheeled Armored Combat Vehicles (VCBR) to the Peruvian Army.
Known as Baekho or White Tiger, the K808 is a development by Hyundai Rotem that began in the early 2000s to provide a new armored platform to the South Korean Armed Forces. As stated, the armored vehicle can be offered in 6×6 or 8×8 versions.
Regarding the selection of the K2 as the new tank, it is a design whose first export user is the Polish Army, which began receiving deliveries in December 2022, with an initial batch of 180 units. With the signing of this new agreement, the company will expand its reach by including complete land weapon systems, such as the K2 tank, its variants, and other related armored vehicles.
For its part, the Peruvian Army Arsenal has decided to move forward with this project with Hyundai Rotem, strengthening mutual collaboration for the development of the K2 project. In its latest version, this tank is equipped with a Hyundai Doosan Infracore DV27K 12-cylinder diesel engine with 1,500 HP, coupled with a 6-speed automatic SNT Dynamics EST15K transmission with 2 reverse gears. Its armament includes a Hyundai WIA CN08 L55 120mm cannon, a K6 12.7mm heavy machine gun, and a 7.62mm coaxial. It can reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h on roads and 50 km/h off-road, with a range of 450 kilometers.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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