A Polish Army Homar-K multiple launch rocket system fires a CGR-80 precision-guided rocket during a live-fire exercise. The contract was concluded with the Polish Armaments Agency and covers 80-kilometer-range precision-guided rockets, with production to be localized in Poland. The agreement is regarded as one of the largest single guided-munition export deals in South Korean defense industry history.

Execution of the contract will be led by Hanwha-WB Advanced System (HWB), a joint venture established between Hanwha Aerospace and Polish defense electronics prime WB Electronics. The CGR-080 rockets will be manufactured at a dedicated production facility to be built in Poland and delivered directly to the Polish Armed Forces.

Industry analysts note that the localization of production was a decisive factor, particularly as European countries increasingly emphasize domestic manufacturing and industrial participation in major defense procurements.

The signing ceremony, held at the Warsaw Military Museum, was attended by senior defense and government officials from both countries, highlighting the strategic importance of the program.

Defense industry sources attribute the deal in part to strong government-to-government engagement, including special envoy diplomacy from Seoul aimed at reinforcing long-term defense cooperation with Warsaw.

“Large-scale European defense contracts increasingly depend on political alignment, industrial localization, and delivery credibility,” a defense industry source said. “The Chunmoo program meets all three criteria.”

Hanwha Aerospace first signed a framework agreement with Poland in 2022 covering Chunmoo launchers and guided rockets. This was followed by a first execution contract worth roughly KRW 5 trillion (USD ~3.7 billion) and a second contract valued at about KRW 2 trillion (USD ~1.5 billion) in 2024. All deliveries under earlier agreements have reportedly remained on schedule.

The latest KRW 5.6 trillion (USD 4.1 billion) contract comes amid the European Union’s push to prioritize European-made weapons under initiatives such as SAFE (Secure Action for Europe). Analysts view Hanwha’s joint-venture strategy as an effective countermeasure, repositioning the company from an external supplier to a locally embedded defense industrial partner.

With Chunmoo rocket production now set to expand inside Poland, expectations are rising for additional ammunition orders and potential follow-on contracts, including further K9 self-propelled howitzer procurements, as South Korea deepens its defense partnership with one of NATO’s key frontline states.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

#HanwhaAerospace #Chunmoo #GuidedRockets #CGR80 #MLRS #PrecisionStrike #PolandDefense #NATODefense #EuropeanSecurity #EasternFlank #DefenseLocalization #KDefense #SouthKoreaDefense #DefenseDiplomacy
#IndustrialCooperation #DefenseManufacturing