Norwegian government has officially chosen South Korean Hanwha Systems and its K239 Chunmoo for an MLRS contract worth 19 billion kroner, or approximately $2 billion. And full deployment will be completed in 5-6 years, and Poland also contributed to the choice itself.
As reported by the country's defense ministry, launchers and training equipment will be delivered in 2028-2029, and missiles will arrive in 2030-2031. Thus, it will be possible to start personnel training earlier and obtain a combat-ready system within 4 years.
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For comparison, Estonia received the first batch of several American M142 HIMARS in 2025, although it ordered them in 2022. At the same time, the second batch is scheduled for 2028-2029. That is, for the start of delivery the difference is small, but completion will have to be waited for quite a long time. Actually, Estonia therefore also purchased K239 for itself.
Overall, KNDS, Rheinmetall, Hanwha, SAAB/Boeing consortium and potentially Lockheed Martin with HIMARS through FMS competed for the tender announced by Norway in November 2024. At the same time, only the South Korean proposal satisfied all Norwegian requirements, especially delivery speed and lower cost.
Also in Norway they mention that a rocket production line for Chunmoo MLRS will be opened in Poland, which will ensure supply to all European operators. That is, even localization in other EU countries can influence the success of armament in the region.
Interestingly, Hanwha Systems proposed cooperation equivalent to 120% of the contract value with Norwegian companies that have a long history of developing and manufacturing missile weapons. Here one can immediately recall the same NSM, NASAMS and JSM from Kongsberg.
Moreover, the South Korean side agreed to make payment after the start of system delivery, although in the arms market prepayment is usually taken. This gives a good view of the willingness to make compromises to obtain the deal.
According to previously known plans, Norway plans to purchase 16 launchers and an undetermined number of missiles. At the same time, the winner was known before the official announcement thanks to previous announcements and throwing out from the tender of the German-Israeli EuroPULS.
It's expected that the final contract with Hanwha Systems will be signed by Norway's Defense Procurement Agency (Forsvarsmateriell, FMA) on January 30, 2026. And if no force majeure occurs, then in approximately 5 years the country will have a fleet of modern MLRS.
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