K239 Chunmoo: Poland to receive first 18 launches in 2023

Today in Warsaw, an executive agreement was signed for the purchase of Korean K239 Chunmoo launchers for the Polish armed forces.

This was reported on the website of the Polish Army.

The first executive contract, totaling $3.55 billion, was concluded between the State Treasury – Armaments Agency and the Korean Hanwha on the supply of 218 K239 Chunmoo launchers with a logistics and training package, a reserve of ammunition, including several thousand high-precision 239 mm rockets with a range of up to 80 kilometers, and ballistic missiles with a range of up to 290 km. The Korean manufacturer will also provide technical assistance.

Korean K239 Chunmoo launchers will be placed on the chassis of the Polish Jelcz trucks, communication systems and Polish TOPAZ integrated combat management system, as well as ammunition. Their delivery dates are scheduled for 2023-2027.

These deliveries will allow the first division of 18 K239 Chunmoo launchers to be initially ready by the end of 2023.

Previously, the Minister of National Defense of Poland, Mariusz Błaszczak, stated that the first launchers would go to the 18th Mechanized Division (nicknamed The Iron Division), probably to the newly formed 18th Field Artillery Regiment.

The training package includes training of technical personnel both in Korea and in Poland, and the logistics package comprises, in particular, a warehouse of diagnostic equipment and spare parts. The contractor will also provide service assistance for K239 Chunmoo launchers in Poland.

It is stated that the adopted method of concluding executive contracts is related to the implementation of the entire project, including the purchase of a total of 288 K239 launchers, divided into phases, which is also related to the planned wide scope of technology transfer and production on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

“This will make it possible to optimally manage the entire program, in particular, it will make it possible to quickly achieve, already at the first stage, the operational capabilities needed by the Polish Armed Forces through the supply of modern military equipment,” the statement says.

As previously reported, in October, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak approved a framework contract for the supply of 288 Korean K239 Chunmoo launchers to the Armed Forces of Poland.

The K239 Chunmoo is a missile system capable of launching missiles of various calibers. This MLRS enters service with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea in place of the old K136 systems.

The missile system carries two missile containers, each accommodating six 239-mm guided missiles with a range of approximately 80 km or one ballistic missile with a range of approximately 300 km.