In recent weeks, reports have circulated about the Royal Armed Forces’ (FAR) supposed interest in South Korean military equipment. According to the specialized outlet Defense Blog, which cites Korean manufacturers, Morocco is considering acquiring 400 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks as well as the short-range Cheongung (KM-SAM) air defense system.

No negotiations, but real interest

“These are unfounded reports; nothing has been communicated at the level of the relevant agencies and authorities,” an authorized source within the Korean authorities assures TelQuel. “But the interest of Korean defense manufacturers in Morocco is very real,” she adds. According to our interlocutor, several Korean defense operators have expressed strong interest in investing in Morocco’s defense sector.

South Korea, one of the rising players in the global defense market, builds on its chaebols, the industrial conglomerates such as Samsung, Hyundai, or LG that structure its economic fabric. As early as the 1970s, Seoul established a defense industrial and technological base (DITB), which managed to assert itself on the international market in the early 2010s by entering the world’s Top 10 arms exporters.

Seeking a gateway into Africa

After making Southeast Asia its primary market, the Korean DITB turned toward the Middle East and then entered Europe. It is now seeking a gateway into Africa, with Morocco at the top of the list. According to our information, two operators have shown particular interest in the Moroccan market: Hyundai, through its subsidiary Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD Hyundai), and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). While HD Hyundai is banking on its offering of submarines and patrol vessels, KAI is promoting its FA-50 fighter jet. “The Royal Navy showed interest a few years ago in HD Hyundai’s submarines, without going beyond the exploratory stage,” our source confides.

HD Hyundai’s interest is not limited to the military domain: the company is part of a consortium with the Moroccan operator Somagec, competing to win the contract for the construction of the Casablanca shipyard. The objective for the Korean shipbuilder is to leverage this contract (if awarded, of course) to position itself for the construction of patrol vessels at the future shipyard.

For its part, KAI is eyeing the upcoming market for replacing the Royal Air Force’s (FRA) Alphajet fleet (see box). Morocco has more than 20 aging aircraft, with the first planes delivered in 1979. The FRA’s intention to replace its Alphajets was announced last July by Avia News. The Swiss aviation outlet mentioned three aircraft, the Russian Yakovlev Yak-130, the Italian Leonardo M-346, and the Chinese Hongdu L-15, as the main contenders, which could mean that the competition remains open.

“There have already been contacts with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) to explore business opportunities,” explains our interlocutor. According to him, there is a willingness to establish an industrial partnership between Rabat and Seoul, including the DITB. Korean companies appear to have taken note of the deal concluded between ONCF and Hyundai Rotem : the manufacturer included the establishment of a factory in its offer. “Industrial integration is not an issue for Korean companies, which, unlike their Western competitors, honor their commitments in this area and do not drag their feet on technology transfer,” our source emphasizes.

How strong is the Korean DITB?

As mentioned above, the Korean defense industry has managed to enter the club of major global arms exporters. After being established in the 1970s, the Korean DITB began its rise in the 1980s, heavily relying on reverse engineering and joint-venture production. For Seoul, the objective was to meet the needs of its own armed forces during a period marked by U.S. military disengagement in the region. This approach initially limited the DITB’s export capacity, prompting the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), responsible for sector development, to launch major R&D initiatives. This decision gave rise to flagship DITB programs such as the K2 tanks (produced by Hyundai Rotem) and the T-50 training and light attack aircraft (the initial version of the F-50, see box below).

This shift led to a restructuring of the DITB, requiring the division of companies and the creation of new entities. KAI, for example, was formed following the merger of the aerospace divisions of Daewoo, Hyundai, and Samsung. This period also saw the entry of new players into the market, beyond the Americans, such as the French company Thales. Like the rest of the Korean economy, the DITB remains highly dependent on large conglomerates and has struggled to develop a genuine network of small and medium-sized enterprises. The South Korean state also remains a major funder of the sector, particularly in R&D.

The DITB’s rise in value has also been driven by a strategy of licensed production and partnerships with foreign companies. Beyond the industrial dimension, South Korea benefited from adopting NATO standards, enabling it to access markets typically closed to non-Western systems, such as Poland and the United Kingdom. This is coupled with its ability to design tailor-made models to meet specifications, along with its willingness to accept generous technology transfers to secure deals. Its DITB has thus reached the level of maturity seen today.

That maturity, however, remains constrained by technological dependence on the United States and its European partners. While this dependence reflects a pragmatic choice to secure funding and technologies, it effectively limits the country’s strategic autonomy, particularly when exporting certain equipment. This will likely require Seoul to make a new massive investment effort in R&D to “Koreanize” its DITB.