K2 Black Panther Is the Tank Every Army Wants
Peru is modernizing its military with significant investments in South Korean defense technology. This includes replacing its outdated fleet of Soviet-era T-54/55 tanks with South Korea's K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, which are highly adaptable to Peru’s diverse terrain.
What You Need to Know: Peru is modernizing its military with significant investments in South Korean defense technology. This includes replacing its outdated fleet of Soviet-era T-54/55 tanks with South Korea's K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, which are highly adaptable to Peru’s diverse terrain.
-The K2 features advanced suspension, an automatic loader, and a powerful 120mm smoothbore gun.
-Peru also plans to co-develop submarines and other naval vessels with Hyundai Heavy Industries and is considering the acquisition of KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 Fighting Eagle light fighters from South Korea, as well as Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen, to replace its aging Mirage 2000, Su-25, and MiG-29 aircraft.
Peru to Replace Soviet-made Tanks With South Korean K2 Black Panther
The South Korean K2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT) was developed to operate in the Korean Peninsula's hilly terrain. That was likely a selling point for the Peruvian military, which has sought to replace its aging fleet of around 300 T-54/55 series tanks that Lima first acquired in the early 1970s.
Though those tanks have received significant upgrades in the past five decades, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has shown that the Cold War-era T-55 is no match against modern armor.
It is unclear what options Peru may have considered, but this week South Korean defense contractor Hyundai Rotem announced that it signed a strategic defense agreement with the South American nation at the Asia Pacific economic summit in Lima. The Peruvian military had previously closed a deal for 90 of the South Korean-made K808 White Tiger wheeled armored personnel carriers.
The K2 Black Panther Tank is Ideal for Peru
Peru has varying terrain that includes a flat coastal region as well as a rugged mountainous interior, where the K2 could be well suited.
The Black Panther is equipped with a unique suspension system, which can be contorted into a variety of positions. For cross-country performance, the suspension is raised, providing the K2 greater ground clearance, while on roads, the suspension is lowered, hugging the ground for better speed. In addition, the K2 can "lean," "sit" or "kneel" to provide the main gun better maneuverability in hull-down positions. When leaning backward, the K2 can raise its main gun to target low-flying aircraft or to better target more highly elevated targets.
The K2 Black Panther MBT has a crew of three including a commander, gunner, and driver. The MBT's main armament is a Rheinmetall 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun, produced under license in South Korea and equipped with a domestically-designed automatic loader – which can ensure the loading of projectiles on the move including when on uneven surfaces.
Peru's Military Build Up
Lima has sought to modernize its military, and in another deal announced its state-owned Servicios Industriales de la Marina (SIMA) would co-develop four submarines for the Peruvian Navy with aid from Hyundai Heavy Industries. The new boats will replace the German-made subs that were also acquired in the 1970s.
In addition, a new frigate, two amphibious warship ships, and at least five other vessels will be built for the South American nation's navy through its partnership with the South Korean firm.
The Peruvian Air Force has also announced it could purchase up to two dozen South Korean KF-21 Boramae and FA-50 Fighting Eagle light fighter jets. However, South Korea may not be the only nation that could supply Lima with fighters.
As previously reported, Sweden's Saab has offered its JAS-39 Gripen multirole fighter.
The supersonic, multi-role fighter jet is capable of air combat and air-to-ground operations, while it can operate from austere facilities, including remote roads turned into temporary runways. It can also carry a variety of advanced munitions.
It is unclear whether Lima will adopt both the South Korean and Swedish aircraft, but it currently operates around a dozen French-produced Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters, along with a handful of aging Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) and Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) fighters.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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