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HD Hyundai Infracore DV27K

$HD Hyundai Infracore DV27K$

2014 MODERN MAIN BATTLE TANK TANK ENGINE

History

The DV27K is a South Korean four-stroke, 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine developed for the K2 Black Panther main battle tank. It produces 1,500 hp and forms the principal power source of the K2.

South Korean development of the engine followed a long program intended to establish a domestic high-output tank-engine capability. HD Hyundai describes the DV27K as independently developed, while another account identifies the Agency for Defense Development and the manufacturer as participants in its development.

The engine had been successfully localized by 2014 after about a decade of research and development. HD Hyundai Infracore became the sole supplier of the domestically developed K2 engine to South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration in 2019.

Production and contracts

In July 2025, HD Hyundai Infracore announced another order from South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration for DV27K engines. Deliveries under that contract were scheduled in phases through 2028.

In January 2026, HD Construction Equipment announced a further contract with Hyundai Rotem for 116 DV27K engines associated with the second batch of K2 Black Panther tanks for Poland. The engines were intended primarily for tanks produced in South Korea for export to Poland from the second half of 2026, while some were allocated as spare engines and for transmission testing.

Poland also began establishing domestic support capability for the engine. Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne in Poznań is to receive South Korean technology for DV27K maintenance and overhaul, allowing K2 engine servicing to be performed locally.

Design

The DV27K is a four-stroke diesel engine with 12 cylinders and liquid cooling. Its maximum output is 1,500 hp, or about 1.1 MW. It was designed as a high-output powerplant for the K2 main battle tank.

The engine uses exhaust-gas energy to compress intake air before it enters the cylinders. This increases the quantity of air available for combustion and supports the engine's high power output. Its structural arrangement is also designed to reduce vibration and distribute power evenly.

The DV27K is intended to operate under the vibration, shock, and temperature conditions encountered by armored vehicles. Installed in the approximately 56-ton K2, the engine enables the tank to reach a stated maximum road speed of up to 70 km/h.

Operational history

The DV27K equips K2 Black Panther tanks in South Korean service and tanks produced for export. By 2026, the engine had also entered the support infrastructure associated with Poland's expanding K2 fleet.

The planned transfer of maintenance and overhaul technology to Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne is intended to create a Polish service base for DV27K engines. This arrangement covers technical maintenance and major overhaul rather than engine production.