Poland orders Chunmoo MRLs, receives first K2 MBTs and K9 SPHs

Poland signed a framework contract with Hanwha for 288 K239 Chunmoo MRLs on 19 October. (Hanwha)

Poland signed a framework contract with Hanwha for 288 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) on 19 October. The contract was signed by Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak and Son Jaeil, president and CEO of Hanwha Defense.

Under the framework agreement, the first batch of 18 Chunmoo systems and ammunition will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces in 2023, Hanwha announced in a press release on 20 October. Błaszczak said the first 18 Chunmoos would equip Poland's 18th Mechanised Division, protecting NATO's eastern flank and defending eastern Poland.

At the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2022 held in Kielce, Poland, from 6 to 9 September, Hanwha showed a model of the Chunmoo with two pods with six 239 mm missiles each, as well as presenting a 600 mm missile, a pod with one of each of which can be carried by a launch vehicle. The 239 mm missile has a range of 80 km and the 600 mm missile has a range of 290 km, according to Hanwha.

Polish Armaments Agency spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Krzysztof Płatek told Janes on 19 October that the Chunmoo systems would be adapted and modified to meet Polish artillery corps standards. Hanwha said the Polish version of the Chunmoo MRL would be integrated with Polish subsystems such as Jelcz trucks from Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), Topaz automated fire-control systems from WB Electronics, and Polish communication and battlefield management systems. The South Korean company added that it planned to award contracts to Polish companies for ammunition and command, technical support, and technical evaluation vehicles.