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The Royal Armed Forces of Morocco are considering the acquisition of as many as 400 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks produced in South Korea, together with the Cheongung medium-range air defense system, as reported by Defense Blog, based on information from South Korean officials.

The report indicated that the action demonstrates Morocco’s attempts to broaden its military purchases beyond American and European systems. Should it be finalized, this would represent the first instance of South Korean-produced heavy ground combat and air defense equipment being incorporated into Morocco’s military forces.

Referencing industry sources in Seoul, Defense Blog noted that the potential agreement highlights Rabat’s efforts to upgrade its land and air defense systems following years of using a diverse range of armored vehicles that are expensive and difficult to maintain. Morocco’s interest is said to include both heavy ground combat equipment and air defense systems, indicating a comprehensive examination of its defense framework rather than just acquiring one specific platform.

The K2 Black Panther is one of South Korea’s most sophisticated main battle tanks. It was created, engineered, and produced by Hyundai Rotem, and made its debut at the ADEX defense show in Seoul during October 2009. In 2014, Hyundai Rotem entered into an agreement with the South Korean Army to provide this tank as a substitute for its outdated M48 Patton models.

As per South Korean reports, the K2 was created with local technology, and the initial prototype was introduced in 2007. Its combat performance is regarded as better than numerous tanks currently in use around the world, including those used by the North Korean and Chinese forces.

The vehicle is equipped with composite armor and explosive reactive armor, along with active protection systems and safeguards against biological and chemical hazards. It is built to endure direct front-facing impacts from 120 mm tank shells.

Operated by three military personnel, the K2’s primary weapon is a 120 mm Rheinmetall cannon able to fire as many as 15 rounds each minute. This cannon is designed to work with NATO-standard tank ammunition and can also deploy KSTAM smart projectiles.

The Cheongung system, on the other hand, is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system that became operational within the South Korean armed forces in 2016. It was created by LIG Nex1, with technical assistance from Russia’s Almaz-Antey and Fakel design organizations, in collaboration with South Korea’s Defense Development Agency. The radar component was developed by Hanwha Systems.

The Cheongung system features a multi-function radar, at least four launchers, missile transport and resupply vehicles, and auxiliary units. Each launcher is equipped with eight vertically launched missiles. These missiles travel at approximately Mach 5 and can engage aircraft within a range of up to 40 kilometers and ballistic missiles at distances of up to 20 kilometers.

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