MEDIA: Armenia exploring possibility of acquiring South Korean Black Panther tanks

ArmInfo. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan visited South Korea in September 2024 to explore the possibility of acquiring K2 Black Panther main battle tanks developed by Hyundai Rotem. This was reported by the Global Defense News platform Army Recognition with reference to the South Korean media outlet Chosun Biz.

"This visit also allowed the Armenian minister to attend the 2024 High-Level Meeting on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence (REAIM), organized by South Korea's Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs  on September 9 and 10," the source said.

At the same time, citing Armenian Telegram channels, Army Recognition writes that Papikyan also used this visit to initiate discussions on the supply of South Korean weapons, with a particular interest in the K2 tank. "Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan also traveled to South Korea on September 6 to hold several meetings focused on weapons procurement issues," the report says.  The K2 battle tank, currently used by the South Korean army, features a semi-active pneumatic suspension system, an advanced technology that is especially well -suited to mountainous terrains. In Armenia, where nearly 86% of the territory is mountainous, this capability can provide a significant strategic advantage by enhancing the mobility and precision of troops in combat. Additionally, the tank is equipped with a sensor that automatically adjusts the suspension base on the terrain,  further improving accuracy and crew comfort.  Countries such as Poland and Turkey have acquired the K2 tank.