South Korean defense contractor HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) has officially launched the construction phase of Peru’s Warship Project in Callao.
Held at the SIMA state-owned shipyard, the project is part of Lima’s objective to adopt a new combat fleet that includes a frigate, an offshore patrol vessel, and two amphibious landing craft for the Peruvian Navy.
The ceremony saw the steel-cutting and keel laying of the corresponding components that will be part of the future systems.
Assembly of the vessels will be facilitated at the site using the South Korean company’s “advanced design expertise and shipbuilding know-how” in partnership with the Latin American country’s local industries.
The contract for the development was awarded to HD HHI in March 2024 and cost $462.9 million. The first platform under the initiative will be completed in 2026.
“This marks a very important milestone in the history of Peru’s shipbuilding industry,” Peruvian President Dina Boluarte remarked during the ceremony.
“We expect this project with HD HHI to promote the modernization of the Peruvian Navy and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.”
Local Shipbuilder Training
After the event, HD HHI and South Korea’s University of Ulsan will host a two-week Naval Architecture Training Program for SIMA Shipyard engineers to improve Peru’s domestic shipbuilding and related equipment suppliers.
The competency effort will be conducted under Hyundai’s larger Pan-Pacific Belt Vision, a plan to establish the organization’s global defense hub network and localize its technological capabilities across Peru, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines.
“This project marks the beginning of the K-defense’s entry into Latin America,” HD HHI Naval & Special Ships Business Head Joo Won-ho stated.
“We are committed to ensuring its success through technological excellence and mutual trust, strengthening defense ties between Korea and Peru.”
Future Peruvian Navy Warships
HD HHI noted during the contract award that the Peruvian Navy’s incoming surface combat ships will include a 3,400-ton frigate based on the company’s HDF-3200, a 2,200-ton patrol vessel based on the HDP-2200, and 1,500-ton landing craft based on the HDL-1500.
The frigate will have a length of 127 meters (417 feet), a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 kilometers/31 miles per hour), and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 kilometers/6,904 miles). It will be armed with advanced air defense radar, vertical launching systems, and anti-ship missiles.
Meanwhile, the offshore patrol vessel will measure 95 meters (312 feet) long, have speeds up to 20 knots (37 kilometers/23 miles per hour), and a range similar to the frigate. It will carry containerized mission modules and a medium-type maritime helicopter.
Lastly, the landing craft will each measure 58 meters (190 feet) long and incorporate a top speed of 10 knots (19 kilometers/12 miles per hour) as well as a range of 1,500 nautical miles (27,780 kilometers/17,262 miles). They will have the capacity for TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) containers or large armored vehicles.
Peru-South Korea Defense Partnership
The start of the Warship Project follows the Peruvian and the South Korean governments’ signing of an agreement to amplify their national defense cooperation in November.
Four months earlier, Lima announced the procurement of more than 24 FA-50 Golden Eagle light combat aircraft from Seoul.
In May 2024, South Korea approved the first foreign military sale of vehicles to Peru, which covers up to 120 K808 White Tiger wheeled armored personnel carriers to support the Peruvian Army’s reconnaissance and transport missions.
