South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a preliminary agreement with Peru’s state-owned Shipyard Marine Industrial Services (SIMA) to jointly develop and build submarines for the Peruvian Navy, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Both companies plan to finalize a full contract by the end of the year.
The submarines are expected to be constructed at HD Hyundai Heavy’s shipyard in Ulsan, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) southeast of Seoul.
The initiative “marks the first submarine co-development project for a Latin American navy,” said Luis Silva Lopez, general manager of SIMA, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“This joint project will facilitate the advancement and self-reliance of shipbuilding and defense technologies not only in Peru but across Latin America.”
Peru’s Push to Modernize Navy
The new agreement follows a similar deal signed earlier this year between the two companies to co-develop a 1,500-ton submarine designed to replace Lima’s aging fleet with a modern, medium-sized vessel based on HD Hyundai’s HDS-1500 design.
Peru’s current submarine force consists of six German-built Type 209 boats, two Type 209/1100s, and four Type 209/1200s.
These diesel-electric submarines have formed the backbone of the country’s undersea fleet for over 40 years.
The initiative is part of the Latin American nation’s broader effort to modernize its naval forces through closer cooperation with HD Hyundai.
The partnership includes several systems for the Peruvian Navy, such as frigates, offshore patrol ships, and landing support vessels.
