On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in Lima, representatives of the Peruvian Ministry of Defense signed a framework agreement with the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) for the delivery of 54 K2 Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) tanks and 141 K808 (KW2) 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carriers. This follows an agreement on the matter reached on November 16, 2024.
From right: Jorge Zapata, head of FAME; Lee Yong-bae, president of Hyundai Rotem; Prime Minister of Peru Ernesto Álvarez; Chairman of the National Assembly of Peru Fernando Rospigliosi; President of Peru Jose Jerry; Lee Yong-chul, head of DAPA; Peruvian Minister of Defense Cesar Diaz; Peruvian Army Commander-in-Chief Cesar Briceño; Peruvian Army Chief of Staff Oswaldo Calle Talledo; Peruvian Army Logistics Commander Jorge Arevalo; South Korean Ambassador to Peru Choi Jong-wook; and Kim Tae-gon, Director General for International Cooperation at DAPA / Photo: HRC
The framework agreement was signed at the headquarters of the state-owned company FAME (Fábrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejército) in Lima, which is overseen by the Peruvian Ministry of Defense. A follow-on implementation contract is expected to be signed soon, initiating the project’s execution.
Under the agreement, Hyundai Rotem Company will provide comprehensive support, including training and logistical assistance, for the acquisition and operation of the equipment. Hyundai Rotem entered the Peruvian market for the first time last year by signing a USD 60 million contract for the delivery of 30 wheeled armored vehicles, specifically 30 K808 APCs, as reported on May 2, 2023.
A Hyundai Rotem representative stated: “Thanks to the meticulous support of the government and relevant institutions, we were able to conclude this framework agreement, which will become another milestone in the history of the Korean defense industry. As Korea’s sole tank manufacturer, we will continue to focus on development in the global market with a strong sense of mission, and we will make every effort to contribute to Korea’s goal of becoming one of the world’s top four defense powers.”
Peru ultimately intends to procure a total of approximately 150 K2 tanks and 280 K808 armored personnel carriers.
Photo: Hyunmin Park, MILMAG
K2 Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther)
With this agreement, Peru will become the second export user of K2 tanks after Poland (180 tanks delivered, 180 more ordered, with a total of 1,000 planned K2GF/PL). Previously, Egypt and Morocco had expressed interest in the platform; it is currently being offered to Romania, and talks are underway with Armenia and Iraq. This year, Slovakia rejected the K2PL offer, and the tank also lost the Norwegian competition to the Leopard 2A7 (later amended to Leopard 2A8NO).
The K2 Black Panther is a South Korean 3+ generation main battle tank. Its primary armament is a 120 mm smoothbore gun with an autoloader capable of using the latest types of ammunition. Secondary armament consists of a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Its advanced fire-control system provides high accuracy at long ranges. Armor protection on the standard K2 configuration can be further enhanced with active protection systems such as the soft-kill VIRSS and hard-kill KAPS, offering high ballistic and mine resistance. The tank is powered by a 1,500 hp diesel engine paired with an automatic transmission, giving it excellent speed and mobility across various terrain. It also features a relatively low weight of 55 tons and a hydropneumatic suspension system.
K808
The 20-ton K808, together with the lighter 16-ton K806 (KW1) in a 6×6 drivetrain, forms the family of wheeled armored personnel carriers known under the codename Baekho (White Tiger). Development began in 2012, and serial production started in 2016. Deliveries of serial vehicles to the Republic of Korea Army (Daehanminguk Yukgun) began in 2018. By September 29, 2020, three production contracts had been signed.
The program envisions a total of 500 K808s and 100 K806s in various specialized variants, including: APCs in KW1 6×6 and KW2 8×8 versions, KW1 MEW 6×6 medical evacuation vehicles, KW1 MGS 6×6 fire support vehicles with a 90 mm gun, KW2 Jupiter 8×8 fire support vehicles with a 120 mm gun, KW2 8×8 AAGW anti-aircraft artillery systems, KW2 8×8 120 mm self-propelled mortars, KW2 CP 8×8 command vehicles, KW1 ACV 6×6 and KW2 Scorpion 8×8 infantry fighting vehicles equipped with a remote weapon station featuring a 30 mm automatic cannon and a twin launcher for AT-1K Raybolt anti-tank guided missiles.
Delivery of the first vehicles from the batch of 30 ordered units has already begun, and one of them has been shown publicly (interestingly, a KIA KLTV 4×4 can also be seen – known in Poland as the LPR Legwan).
#NotaDePrensa | @EjercitoPeru y Hyundai Rotem fortalecen capacidades tecnológicas e industriales en defensa.
✅ En el marco del 201° aniversario de la Batalla de Ayacucho, el Ejército del Perú celebra hitos históricos y avanza en su modernización.
Conoce todos los detalles… pic.twitter.com/wbF9K0pGzo
— Mindef Perú (@MindefPeru) December 9, 2025
