Morocco has now officially expressed interest in acquiring the South Korean K2 Black Panther main battle tank. The announcement was made during a visit by the Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to Seoul, where he held high-level talks with South Korean officials.
However, the K2 is just one of three South Korean defense systems that Morocco has its eye on. In addition to the main battle tank, Industry and Trade Minister Mezzour also showed particular interest in the KSS-III diesel-electric submarine and the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system.
Characteristics of the K2 Black Panther
The K2 Black Panther is a main battle tank developed and produced by Hyundai Rotem. It has a 120-millimeter smoothbore L/55 main gun, which is equipped with an automatic loader and enables a rate of fire of around ten rounds per minute.
The fire control system includes automatic target tracking, a commander’s independent panoramic sight and integration into C4I networks. The tank is powered by a 1,500 hp MTU diesel engine and a Renk automatic transmission in the original configuration.
The K2’s protection is based on modular composite armor and is compatible with active soft-kill and hard-kill protection systems. For mobility, an advanced hydropneumatic suspension system is used, allowing the tank to adjust its hull height and tilt to change firing angles or visibility. With a snorkel system, it can also cross water obstacles up to a depth of 4.1 meters.
Internationally in action
In addition to firepower, mobility and protection, the K2 integrates various automation functions such as automatic track tensioning and onboard diagnostics. The tank is operated by a crew of three: commander, gunner and driver.
The tank – one of the most modern in the world – is already in international service: Poland signed a contract for the purchase of 180 K2 tanks in 2022with plans for the local production of up to 820 additional units as part of the K2PL program.
The tank has also been offered to several other countries, including Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with some of these countries considering local configurations.
In-depth cooperation between South Korea and Morocco
Morocco was designated a Global Pivotal State by South Korea as part of the foreign policy strategy presented by President Yoon Suk-yeol in 2022. This classification refers to countries that are considered important regional players and priority partners for South Korea’s expanded diplomatic and economic engagement.
Morocco’s geographical location at the crossroads of Europe and Africa and its access to the Atlantic trade corridors have contributed to this designation. The visit in April is a concrete step towards operationalizing this partnership through both economic and security initiatives.
