Croatia signs €435 million deal for 18 South Korean Chunmoo rocket launchers

(Photo: MORH/ F. Klen)

ZAGREB, 10 September 2026 (Croatia Week) – Croatia has signed contracts worth €435.2 million for the acquisition of 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, accompanying equipment and ammunition, as part of a major modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces.

The agreements were signed at the Croatian Government headquarters in Zagreb in the presence of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, marking a further expansion of defence cooperation between Croatia and South Korea.

Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anušić signed the main procurement contract with Billy Boo-Hwan Lee, CEO of South Korean defence company Hanwha Aerospace.

A separate contract for the delivery and integration of a command-and-control (C2) system was signed with Polish company WB Electronics. An additional memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation was signed between the Croatian and South Korean defence ministries.

(Photo: MORH/ F. Klen)

€435 million package

Under the main contract, Croatia will receive 18 K239 Chunmoo launchers together with rocket ammunition and a wider package covering the equipment and infrastructure required to operate the system, the Defence Ministry said. 

The total value of the procurement is €435.2 million excluding VAT.

The programme is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2029, with the complete package expected to be delivered within 24 to 36 months. Around 85% of the Chunmoo system is scheduled to be delivered to Croatia in 2028.

The procurement follows a Total Package Approach, covering launchers, ammunition, ammunition transport vehicles, fire-control centres, training and technical documentation, simulation training rocket containers, rocket-testing equipment and initial spare parts packages.

The C2 system supplied by WB Electronics will connect the different elements of the system and support command and control of operations.

(Photo: MORH/ F. Klen)

A new capability for Croatia

The K239 Chunmoo is a modern multiple rocket launcher designed to provide rapid and flexible fire support across a range of missions.

One of its key features is the ability to carry two rocket modules on a single launcher. Different types of ammunition can be used, allowing the system to engage targets at different ranges.

The system is designed for precision strikes against tactical targets, concentrations of forces, infrastructure and high-value targets deeper within an opposing force’s deployment.

According to the Croatian Ministry of Defence, introducing the Chunmoo will significantly increase the range and precision of Croatia’s rocket artillery compared with its existing systems.

Prime Minister Plenković described the procurement as a strategic step in the modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces, saying the new weapons would give Croatia capabilities it has not previously possessed.

The Chunmoo system is also expected to complement Croatia’s recently acquired Rafale fighter aircraft as part of the country’s broader effort to strengthen its defence capabilities.

(Photo: MORH/ F. Klen)

Croatian industry involvement

Anušić said Croatian companies would also be involved in the project.

He specifically highlighted Končar, saying the Croatian company would participate in the implementation of the project over the coming years.

Hanwha Aerospace said it intends to deepen its cooperation with Croatia, with a particular focus on technology and knowledge transfer. Lee described Croatia as a long-term partner and said the company hoped South Korean defence industry would establish a stronger presence in the country.

Anušić also highlighted what he described as the competitiveness, quality and speed of delivery offered by South Korean defence manufacturers.

(Photo: MORH/ F. Klen)

Broader Croatia-South Korea defence cooperation

The memorandum signed alongside the procurement establishes a framework for expanding cooperation between Croatia and South Korea in areas including defence industry, military-technical cooperation, training, exercises, education, research and technology.

Plenković said it would provide a framework for closer cooperation between the two countries’ defence ministries and armed forces, as well as for links between their defence industries and the development of joint projects.

South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the Chunmoo agreement represented an important stage in the relationship between the two countries.

(Photo: MORH/ F. Klen)

Croatia and South Korea established diplomatic relations 34 years ago, and the two governments have increasingly expanded cooperation beyond diplomatic and economic ties into the defence sector.

The latest agreements therefore represent both a major addition to Croatia’s military capabilities and a further step in the development of its strategic and industrial cooperation with South Korea.