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Poland and South Korea Establish Joint Venture to Build Rockets For "HIMARS Rival" Chunmoo

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Launch of CGR-080 from Homar-K system / Photo credit: Wojsko Polskie
Launch of CGR-080 from Homar-K system / Photo credit: Wojsko Polskie

Poland launched a localization project for Korean-made K239 Chunmoo systems, with the goal of producing precision-guided CGR-080 rockets domestically

WB Group (Poland) and Hanwha Aerospace (South Korea) have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture for the production of CGR-080 precision-guided rockets for the Polish variant of Chunmoo, designated Homar-K. The new enterprise will be 51% owned by Hanwha Aerospace and 49% by WB Electronics, a subsidiary of WB Group.

This step finalizes a preliminary agreement reached in October 2024, as part of the larger procurement deal. Under the contract, Korean rocket modules are mounted on Polish Jelcz chassis and integrated with the Polish Topaz fire control system.

Read more: Poland Mastered Launch Tube Manufacturing: A Milestone Toward Local Patriot Production

The initiative stems from a 2022 contract under which Poland ordered 288 K239 launchers with partial localization rights, including the license for manufacturing the 80 km-range CGR-080 missiles

Given the scale of the Homar-K acquisition for the Polish Armed Forces, domestic rocket production is essential. A full salvo of CGR-080s from all 288 launchers — expected to be delivered by 2029 — would require 3,456 rockets.

Crucially, the agreement also allows for the export of Polish-made rockets. This aspect is vital for South Korea, as potential buyers of the Chunmoo system include Norway, Sweden, and Romania. In this context, Hanwha Aerospace views Poland’s manufacturing capabilities as critical for expanding its market presence in Europe, particularly with potential funding support from the EU’s ReArm Europe initiative.

The CGR-080 is essentially the Korean counterpart to the American GMLRS used in HIMARS. While it has a slightly larger diameter (239 mm vs. 227 mm), it features a similar 90-kg warhead, a range of around 80 km, and dual-mode guidance via satellite and inertial navigation systems.

Defense Express /
A precision-guided CGR-080 missile / Photo credit: Wojsko Polskie

According to Defence24, which attended the signing ceremony, WB Group stated that Poland currently lacks the capacity to manufacture the CGR-080. The process will gradually increase the share of Polish-made components. At present, the future plant's location has been narrowed down to several potential sites.

WB Group estimates that three years will be required to launch production. This timeline includes completing all bureaucratic procedures, constructing the facility, procuring and installing production equipment, recruiting and training personnel, and manufacturing the first batch of rockets. Neither the planned production volume nor the total project cost has been disclosed.

The Homar-K launcher
The Homar-K launcher / Photo credit: Wojsko Polskie

Nevertheless, this cooperation appears more comprehensive and strategically significant than what Poland may secure through its separate plan to acquire 486 HIMARS launchers — or rather, their rocket modules — which will also be mounted on Jelcz trucks. So far, there have been no confirmed plans to produce GMLRS rockets in Poland.

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