According to L’Opinion on April 12, 2025, Morocco formally expressed interest in acquiring South Korea’s K2 Black Panther main battle tank. The announcement came during a visit by Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to Seoul, where he held high-level talks with South Korean officials, including Trade Minister An Deok-geun and Economic Diplomacy Coordinator Kim Hee-sang. According to an undisclosed source, Mezzour explicitly mentioned the K2 tank during meetings.
The meetings also covered broader bilateral issues, such as the negotiation of a new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the establishment of a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF). The visit included a meeting with Hyundai Rotem, the K2’s manufacturer, where Mezzour discussed both industrial and defense-related cooperation. This marks the first time Morocco’s interest in the K2 seems to have been officially acknowledged in a South Korean publication.
The K2 was one of three South Korean defense systems identified by Morocco during the April 2025 meetings. Alongside the tank, Mezzour expressed interest in the KSS-III diesel-electric submarine and the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system. The mention of these three platforms indicates a widening of Morocco’s defense procurement options and a diversification of its potential suppliers. The visit also coincided with Morocco’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with South Korea, and the defense discussions took place within this broader strategic framework. Hyundai Rotem, which manufactures both the K2 and civilian rail vehicles, signed a $1.5 billion contract with Morocco’s state-owned railway company ONCF in February 2025 to deliver 168 double-decker electric trainsets. This civilian agreement may provide a platform for deeper defense cooperation.
The K2 Black Panther is a 3.5-generation main battle tank developed and produced by Hyundai Rotem. It features a 120mm L/55 smoothbore main gun equipped with an automatic loader, allowing for a rate of fire of approximately 10 rounds per minute. The fire control system includes target auto-tracking, a commander’s independent panoramic sight, and integration with C4I networks. The tank is powered by a 1,500 hp MTU diesel engine and a RENK automatic transmission in its original configuration. South Korea has also been developing a localized powerpack, which is entering domestic production. The K2’s protection is based on modular composite armor, and it is compatible with soft-kill and hard-kill active protection systems. For mobility, it employs an advanced hydropneumatic suspension system that allows the tank to adjust its hull elevation and tilt to improve firing angles or reduce visibility. It can cross water obstacles up to 4.1 meters deep using a snorkel system.
In addition to firepower, mobility, and protection, the K2 integrates various automation features such as automatic track tensioning and onboard diagnostics. It is operated by a crew of three: commander, gunner, and driver. South Korea has deployed around 260 K2 tanks, mainly within the 7th Mechanized Corps. The tank, one of the most modern tanks in the world, has already entered international service: Poland signed a contract in 2022 to acquire 180 K2 tanks, with plans for local production of up to 820 additional units under the K2PL program. The tank, whose value was estimated to be around $8.5 million in 2009, has also been proposed to several other countries, including Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with some of these countries considering localized configurations.
When comparing the K2 to the American tanks already operated by Morocco, the Black Panther offers several technical advantages over the American Abrams, notably its autoloader system, which reduces crew size to three and enables a higher rate of fire.
Should Morocco pursue procurement negotiations, it would become the first African country to formally express official interest in the K2 platform. Options may include direct acquisition or industrial cooperation similar to the Polish model, especially considering Hyundai Rotem’s existing infrastructure projects in Morocco. The possibility of offset agreements or localized maintenance and assembly facilities has not yet been publicly addressed, but Morocco has previously pursued such models in defense cooperation with other partners.
The other systems referenced during the visit also reflect Morocco’s interest in South Korea’s defense industry. The KSS-III submarine is a 3,000-ton diesel-electric attack submarine equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) and vertical launch systems capable of deploying cruise missiles. The Cheongung-II is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed for the interception of aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic targets. It features a multi-function phased array radar and can engage multiple threats simultaneously. These systems suggest that Morocco is exploring options for both land and maritime modernization, alongside air defense enhancements.
Morocco has been designated by South Korea as a “Global Pivotal State” under President Yoon Suk-yeol’s foreign policy strategy introduced in 2022. This classification refers to countries considered important regional actors and priority partners for South Korea’s expanded diplomatic and economic engagement. Morocco’s geographic location at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, and its access to Atlantic trade corridors, have contributed to this designation. The April 2025 visit represents a concrete step in operationalizing this partnership through both economic and security initiatives.
The K2’s protection is based on modular composite armor, and it is compatible with soft-kill and hard-kill active protection systems, such as the Trophy.
As of early 2025, Morocco operates approximately 1,100 tanks across multiple models and origins. Its main battle tank fleet includes 222 American M1A1SA Abrams and 162 newer M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams on order, alongside around 340 locally upgraded M60 Pattons (including both M60A1 and M60A3 TTS variants). From China and Pakistan, Morocco received 54 VT-1A tanks out of a cancelled 150-unit order. The country also maintains 87 T-72 variants, including 40 T-72B and 47 Czech-upgraded T-72EA models, some of which were reported transferred to Ukraine in 2022. Other tracked armor includes 105 French AMX-10 RC tank destroyers and 111 Austrian SK-105 Kürassier light tanks, the latter used in reserve and in Moroccan-controlled areas of the Sahara. Older M48 Pattons have been held in storage since the 1991 ceasefire.
When comparing the K2 to the American tanks already operated by Morocco, the Black Panther offers several technical advantages over the American M1A1SA Abrams, notably its autoloader system, which reduces crew size to three and enables a higher rate of fire. Its hydropneumatic suspension, a feature absent in the Abrams, allows the tank to adjust its stance for different terrain or firing positions, improving mobility and adaptability. The K2 is also equipped with a modern fire control suite that includes automatic target tracking and sensors capable of detecting low-flying aircraft. In contrast, the M1A1SA, while upgraded from the original M1A1, also retains a 120mm smoothbore gun but requires a four-person crew due to manual loading. It does, however, feature robust armor and a 1,500 hp gas turbine engine that provides comparable speed and battlefield mobility.
When compared to the more modern M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams variant, the differences become more nuanced. The SEPv3 includes upgraded armor, improved electronics, an optional Trophy active protection system, and advanced networking for enhanced situational awareness. However, it still uses a manual loader and lacks hydropneumatic suspension. The K2’s strengths in crew efficiency, mobility, and fire control make it a technically competitive platform. While the SEPv3 offers enhanced survivability and integration into networked combat systems, the K2’s innovative features and design offer a blend of mobility and firepower that can be advantageous in various operational scenarios.
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