Presidential Office: "Agreement Reached with Peru on K2 Tank Acquisition... Largest-Ever Defense Export to Central and South America"

Comprehensive Agreement Signed in Peru on the 9th
Export of 54 K2 Tanks and 141 Wheeled Armored Vehicles
President Lee: "Elevating Defense and Defense Industry Cooperation Between the Two Countries"

On the 25th, at Namhangang River in Yeonyang-dong, Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, as part of the '2025 National Defense Training,' the K2 tank of the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division of the Army crossed a pontoon bridge constructed by the 7th Engineer Brigade of the Army during the river crossing training. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Hyundai Rotem's 54 K2 tanks and 141 wheeled armored vehicles are set to be exported to Peru. This marks the first time that the K2 tank will enter a Central or South American country, and it is expected to become the largest defense export to the region to date.

On the 9th (local time), the Presidential Office announced that a 'Comprehensive Agreement' had been signed between the Peruvian government and Korean defense companies to supply ground equipment to the Peruvian Army. The agreement stipulates that the Peruvian Army will introduce a total of 195 units, including 54 K2 tanks and 141 wheeled armored vehicles, through cooperation with Korean defense firms and Peru's state-owned defense enterprise.

The comprehensive agreement is a contract that finalizes export terms before the main contract is signed. If it leads to an actual implementation contract, it will be the first case of K2 tanks being exported to the Central and South American region. The Presidential Office stated, "It is significant that a milestone has been set for signing the implementation contract by next year," and added, "The scale of ground equipment exports through this comprehensive agreement is the largest among defense exports to Central and South America."

President Lee Jaemyung said, "I sincerely congratulate the signing of this comprehensive agreement on ground equipment with Peru," and expressed hope that "this will serve as an opportunity to dramatically elevate defense and defense industry cooperation between the two countries." He also emphasized, "Since Peru has chosen K-Defense to strengthen its military capabilities and promote its own industrial development, the two countries should work together to create a mutually beneficial model of defense industry cooperation."

The signing ceremony for the comprehensive agreement was held under the auspices of President Jose Jer? of Peru. From the Korean government, the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration attended as the official representative.