The Peruvian Navy To Procure Four Military Vessels Worth $463 Million From HD Hyundai
South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) recently signed a contract to build four military ships for the Peruvian Navy. The contract, which is valued at $462,900,000, includes the construction of a 3,400-ton frigate based on the HDF-3200, a 2,200-ton OPV based on the HDP-2200, and two 1,500-ton landing crafts based on the HDL-1500. According to the agreement, HD HHI will be in charge of the ships’ design, equipment, and material package, as well as technical support, while construction will be undertaken by Peru’s state-owned SIMA (Servicios Industriales de la Marina) shipyard. SIMA, with the assistance of HD HHI, plans to deliver these military vessels to the Peruvian Navy by 2029.
Dr. Won-ho Joo, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of HD HHI’s Naval & Special Ship Business Unit, stated: “This contract will be a significant milestone for development of Peruvian naval shipbuilding industry,” adding, “We will cooperate with SIMA as a long term strategic partner to develop SIMA and Peruvian industrial capability so that Peru will become a key naval shipbuilding nation in South America.”
In addition to this agreement, the Peruvian Navy intends to order eleven additional military ships, including five frigates, four offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and two landing craft units (LCUs). HD HHI, which has taken a strategic role in developing the Peruvian Navy’s capabilities under the previous agreement, is expected to win this upcoming tender. According to the company, the agreement with Peru will also help it win similar contracts in the Latin American region, where warship renewals are in high demand.
The relationship between the Peruvian Navy and South Korean shipyards dates back to 2013. Peru initially ordered a Makassar-class landing platform dock from South Korea’s Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. (now Posco International Corp.) and eight PGCP-50 type patrol boats from STX. All of these ships were built at the SIMA shipyard in Peru in accordance with the parties’ agreements. In addition, the South Korean Navy donated two Pohang-class patrol corvettes, decommissioned in 2016 and 2022, to the Peruvian Navy.