Morocco evaluates the purchase of up to 400 K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea.

Morocco is assessing the possible procurement of up to 400 South Korean K2 Black Panther tanks as part of a broader review of its land forces modernization plans.

According to Daum on January 15, 2026, Morocco has begun evaluating a potential acquisition of up to 400 K2 Black Panther tanks from South Korea as part of a broader reassessment of its land forces. If pursued, the move would mark a major diversification away from the reliance on U.S. and Russian tanks, as well as positioning Rabat as the first African operator of the K2 Black Panther tank.
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The K2 Black Panther attracted Morocco's attention due to its export availability and its suitability for hot and arid operating environments, thanks to the existence of the K2ME, a variant specifically tailored for such landscapes. (Picture source: South Korean Army)

This follows a visit to Seoul in April 2025 by Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, during which interest in the K2 was formally communicated to South Korean counterparts. The same exchanges also reportedly covered KM-SAM air defense systems, K9 howitzers, and KSS-III submarines, indicating that the tank is being considered within a broader modernization framework. To date, no contract or delivery schedule has been confirmed, as the process remains at the stage of technical, industrial, and strategic assessment. If concluded, the deal would make Morocco the first African operator of the K2.

Morocco already fields a large and diverse tank force, centered on 384 U.S.-supplied Abrams tanks, with 222 M1A1s and 162 M1A2s in service. In addition to the American tanks, the army operates about 142 T-72 tanks, 54 Al-Khalids/VT-4s, around 260 M60 Pattons, and roughly 225 older M48 Patton tanks, which increases the number of support chains that must be sustained in parallel. However, Moroccan authorities assess that Abrams tanks alone do not fully cover current and future operational requirements, particularly in terms of fleet expansion flexibility.

Since 2022, constraints on U.S. production and export capacity for additional advanced Abrams variants have reduced Morocco’s options for rapid force growth. In this context, the K2 is being weighed as an additional option to replace Cold-war era tanks rather than a replacement for existing Abrams units. Among the K2's advantages, we can highlight the automatic loading system, which reduces personnel requirements to three, as well as the existence of the K2ME variant, specifically adapted for operation in desert climates, including environments exceeding 50°C, matching Morocco’s climatic and geographic conditions.

The post-2022 environment reinforced the need for alternative suppliers capable of supporting armored modernization under different industrial conditions. With access to additional Abrams or T-72 tanks becoming more constrained, Morocco began exploring options that could expand its tank forces while easing sustainment pressures. The K2 attracted attention due to its export availability and its suitability for hot and arid operating environments. Morocco’s interest is also shaped by export configurability, meaning the ability to negotiate support, training, and local industrial participation in a way that fits Moroccan constraints. The feasibility of any tailored package remains conditional on negotiations, but the technical themes being discussed align with Morocco’s geography, industry, and operating requirements.

The K2 Black Panther is powered by a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine, coupled with an automatic transmission, which enables a maximum road speed of 70 km/h and an off-road speed of approximately 50 km/h, with an operational range of nearly 450 km. Its main armament is a 120 mm L55 smoothbore cannon with an automatic loader and a total ammunition capacity of 40 rounds, including 16 in the autoloader and 24 in the hull, and the gun can fire a variety of kinetic energy and high-explosive rounds, with a practical firing rate in the range of roughly 10 rounds per minute. Secondary weapons include a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. The K2 is also equipped with a hydro-pneumatic in-arm suspension that allows a better adjustment to the terrain, as well as a combination of composite armor with add-on explosive reactive armor and a soft-kill active defense system, while optical and thermal sights with range-finding sensors support target acquisition at several kilometers.

The strategic environment remains a primary driver, with Algeria functioning as the main reference competitor for Moroccan force planning. Morocco and Algeria have kept their land border closed since 1994 and cut diplomatic relations in 2021, while tensions about Western Sahara continue to influence their strategies. Algeria has expanded its air combat capabilities through the acquisition of Russian-made Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets. Morocco, in turn, purchased about 50 F-16 fighters, and could potentially eye the F-35. In this environment, a large K2 purchase is treated as a credible deterrence signal, because armored mass and readiness remain central in a North African contingency. The K2 review, therefore, sits at the intersection of force sustainability and regional strategy, rather than being only a technical comparison exercise. The added focus on air defense systems like Cheongung further indicates that Morocco is looking at a layered land-and-air modernization rather than armor alone.

Morocco’s discussions with South Korea extend beyond tanks and point to a multi-domain modernization approach. Alongside the K2, Rabat has examined assets including the KM-SAM air defense system, the K9 self-propelled howitzer, and the KSS-III submarine. These defense talks are complemented by existing economic ties; in February 2025, for instance, Hyundai Rotem secured a major contract with Morocco’s state rail operator ONCF valued at about KRW 2.2 trillion, or roughly $1.5 billion, to supply double-decker electric trains.

Additional cooperation has been mentioned involving HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Somagec, including potential shipyard operations in Casablanca, while localization and technology transfer remain under consideration rather than agreed terms. These contacts matter for defense procurement because they can create channels for offsets, local support ecosystems, and long-term servicing frameworks. They also show that Rabat and Seoul already have a highly valued relationship, which can reduce friction when discussing other large-scale procurements.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.