Croatia Signs K239 Chunmoo Deal for 18 Rocket Launchers

Croatia signed contracts on September 10 for the acquisition of 18 K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems from South Korea, moving one of its largest military modernization programs into the implementation phase. The package includes rocket ammunition, supporting equipment and a separate command-and-control system, with delivery of the complete capability scheduled for completion in 2029.

The agreements were signed in Zagreb during a visit by South Korean Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back. Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić signed the agreements with Hanwha Aerospace President and Chief Executive Officer Boohwan Lee and WB Electronics Vice President Adam Bartosiewicz.

Croatia and South Korea also signed a memorandum on defense cooperation intended to establish a framework for closer military and defense-industrial ties.

Hanwha Aerospace and WB Electronics split the Croatian program

Hanwha Aerospace will supply the 18 self-propelled K239 Chunmoo launchers, rocket ammunition and associated equipment. Poland-based WB Electronics will provide, install and integrate the command-and-control system that connects the components into an operational network.

The Croatian government approved the acquisition on September 4 at a total value of €544.05 million including value-added tax. The procurement itself was valued at €435.2 million excluding VAT and will run from 2026 through 2029.

The government previously said the complete package would be delivered within 24 to 36 months. Following the signing, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said delivery would be completed in 2029.

The contract signing therefore moves the Chunmoo program beyond the government approval announced earlier in September and establishes the companies responsible for delivering the launcher and C2 components.

Croatia will operate Chunmoo alongside HIMARS

The K239 Chunmoo will not replace Croatia's eight previously ordered M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. Zagreb intends to operate both systems, giving the Croatian Armed Forces a planned force of 26 modern wheeled rocket launchers.

Croatian officials describe the two systems as complementary. Chunmoo increases launcher capacity while opening a second ammunition and supply chain alongside the US-built HIMARS fleet.

The dual-system structure also represents a major transition for Croatian artillery. The new launchers are intended to replace aging SVLR Vulkan and BM-21 Grad systems while introducing precision strike capability at substantially greater ranges.

Croatia says the K239 Chunmoo will enable engagements from approximately 30 kilometers to more than several hundred kilometers, depending on the ammunition used. The government has not publicly disclosed the final missile inventory included in the signed contract.

The launcher can carry two rocket pods simultaneously and can accommodate different ammunition types. That configuration gives an individual launcher the ability to carry two different classes of rocket or missile at the same time.

Končar joins Croatia's Chunmoo industrial program

The September 10 signing also provided a new detail on Croatian industrial participation. Defense Minister Anušić said Croatian industrial group Končar will participate in the project.

The government has not yet disclosed the precise scope, financial value or technical responsibilities of Končar's involvement. That leaves the level of domestic production, integration or support work still to be clarified as the program advances.

Industrial cooperation has been one of the factors cited by Croatia in selecting the South Korean system. Zagreb has also pointed to availability, cost and a delivery period of 24 to 36 months.

South Korea described the agreement as its first major defense export to Croatia. The transaction adds Croatia to a growing group of European Chunmoo customers that includes Poland, Estonia and Norway.

Chunmoo adds a second long-range fires supply chain

The combination of 18 Chunmoo and eight HIMARS launchers creates a diversified Croatian rocket artillery architecture rather than dependence on a single foreign supplier.

That structure provides access to separate South Korean and US ammunition ecosystems, but it also introduces additional requirements for training, maintenance, logistics and command integration.

The WB Electronics C2 contract is therefore an important part of the procurement. Croatia is not acquiring launchers in isolation but a networked capability intended to connect the new rocket artillery assets into a common operational structure.

For the Croatian Armed Forces, the transition represents a move from legacy unguided rocket artillery toward precision fires capable of engaging targets at operational depth. The government considers the Chunmoo acquisition one of its largest military investments since the procurement of 12 Dassault Rafale fighters.

Croatia plans to increase defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product by 2030 and to reach NATO's 3.5 percent core defense spending target by 2035. The government said 34 percent of Croatia's defense budget was allocated to modernization and equipment in 2025.

Croatia K239 Chunmoo: Key questions

How many K239 Chunmoo launchers is Croatia buying?

Croatia is acquiring 18 K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems from South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace. The launchers will operate alongside eight M142 HIMARS systems already ordered from the United States.

How much is Croatia's Chunmoo procurement worth?

The Croatian government approved €544.05 million including VAT for the complete procurement. The acquisition is valued at €435.2 million excluding VAT and covers the launchers, ammunition, supporting systems and associated C2 capability.

When will Croatia receive its K239 Chunmoo systems?

Croatia has stated that the complete package will be delivered within 24 to 36 months. Following the September 10 contract signing, the government said delivery will be completed in 2029.

Is Croatia replacing HIMARS with K239 Chunmoo?

No. Croatia plans to operate both systems. Eighteen Chunmoo launchers combined with eight HIMARS launchers would give the Croatian Armed Forces a planned fleet of 26 modern long-range rocket artillery launchers.

The next major details to watch will be the exact ammunition mix included in the contract, the scope of Končar's industrial participation and how Croatia integrates its Chunmoo and HIMARS units into a common long-range fires architecture.