Iraq is interested in K2 Black Panther main battle tanks to replace both its maintenance-intensive M1 Abrams fleet and its older Soviet-era vehicles.
South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem is now in talks with multiple nations to export its much-touted K2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT). The next-generation armored vehicle, initially developed and produced to counter a feared invasion from North Korea, has already found favor with NATO member Poland, which is currently acquiring upwards of 1,000 units. In addition, Warsaw will produce the K2 under license.
There has been interest from Peru, Romania, and Saudi Arabia—but this month, Iraq also moved closer to adopting the MBTs.
Baghdad could acquire as many as 250 South Korean-made tanks as part of a $6.5 billion deal that would allow the Iraqi Army to replace its American-made M1 Abrams and even older Soviet- and Russian-era armor still in service. The decision comes amid the impending reduction in US support for the Middle Eastern nation.
“The Abrams is a beast in battle, but sustaining it in our environment is like feeding a lion in the desert,” an anonymous Iraqi military source told Defence Security Asia (DSA)—noting that the Iraqi military had faced ongoing issues with the “maintenance-intensive” M1A1 Abrams.
The Iraqi Army also continues to operate Russian-origin T-72 and T-90S MBTs, but DSA noted that the “readiness has been progressively eroded by supply chain disruptions and geopolitical sanctions,” given Russia’s pariah status following its invasion of Ukraine. Keeping the aging Russian-supplied tanks operational has become a serious issue for Baghdad, necessitating a search elsewhere for replacements.
Like Poland, the Iraqi government is seeking to forge a long-term relationship with South Korea. A “high-level” Iraqi delegation, led by the Iraqi Army’s chief of staff, is expected to visit Hyundai Rotem’s facilities in South Korea in the near future to discuss manufacturing capacity, localization opportunities, delivery schedules, and training options for the K2 MBT.
“This inspection will be pivotal; we’re not just buying tanks, we’re investing in a partnership,” an Iraqi defense ministry spokesperson added.
The K2 Already Operates on Multiple Continents
The Iraqis will undoubtedly consider the manufacturing pipeline and the existing demands on Hyundai Rotem as part of the package. Baghdad will not be first in line for the tanks, as Peru has also sought to acquire them to replace its aging fleet of 300 T-54/55 series tanks purchased from the Soviet Union in the early 1970s.
Peru had previously closed a deal for 90 South-Korean-made K808 White Tiger wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs).
The Latin American country is now undertaking a significant modernization of its military, which will include adopting new German-made warships. At the same time, Lima has inched closer to finalizing a deal with Sweden for the JAS-39 Gripen multirole fighter.
K2 Black Panther Specs
- Year introduced: 2014
- Number Built: ~200
- Weight: ~55 tonnes
- Length: ~10.8 m (34.5 ft) with gun forward
- Width: 3.6 m (11.8 ft)
- Engine: 1,500-horsepower diesel engine
- Speed: 70 km/h (approx. 43 mph) on roads; 52 km/h (33.2 mph) off-road
- Suspension: Hydropneumatic system for terrain adaptation
- Armaments:
- 120mm L/55 smoothbore cannon with autoloader (10–15 rounds per minute)
- Coaxial machine gun
- Heavy machine gun
- Advanced FCS with laser warning, thermal imaging, and automatic target tracking.
- Crew: 3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver)
Is the Black Panther the Best MBT in the World?
The next-generation K2 Black Panther was developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. It was initially intended to complement, rather than replace, the K1 series currently in use by the South Korean military. However, the K2 has proven to exceed the capabilities of the K1 so significantly that Seoul has ramped up production.
The Black Panther is now widely regarded as one of the world’s most advanced main battle tanks (MBTs), surpassing any tanks in service with North Korea or China.
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 with greater ground clearance. On roads and even terrain, 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 even raise its main gun to target low-flying aircraft or to better aim at higher targets.
In short, the South Korean tank could be just as ideal for the rugged desert of Iraq as the mountains of the Korean peninsula or South America.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-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. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / M2M_PL.
