In a tweet published on June 7, 2023, the Polish Ministry of Defense showcased the integration of the South Korean Chunmoo rocket launcher pod onto the Polish Jelcz 8x8 military truck chassis. This is the latest development in Poland's defense partnership with South Korea, which began with an agreement in November 2022 for Poland to acquire 218 Chunmoo K239 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems).
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Polish Jelcz 8x8 military truck fitted with the South Korean Chunmoo rocket launcher system. (Picture source Poland MoD)
South Korean defense contractors and Poland have been in a robust partnership since last year, resulting in the supply of various defense equipment including K2 Main Battle Tanks, K-9 155mm self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers. The total contracts value stands at an impressive $12.4 billion.
Under this agreement, a quick delivery of the first batch of equipment – 10 K2 tanks and 24 K9 howitzers – was made to Poland in December, mere months after the contract was signed in August 2022,
Today, June 7, 2023, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak further agreed to intensify and widen their defense cooperation in accordance with their ongoing defense industry collaboration. The officials met at the South Korean Air Force's 3rd Flying Training Wing in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, and considered the possibilities of conducting combined military exercises and enhancing military-to-military exchanges.
The meeting culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish the Joint Korean-Polish Committee on Cooperation in the Fields of Defense and Defense Industry.
The South Korean Chunmoo K239, a multi-caliber K-MLRS, has been developed and produced by Hanwha Defense. This versatile rocket launcher system can fire 130mm, 227mm, and 239mm rockets. The design comprises an armored crew cab at the front, with the launcher weapon station attached to the rear of the truck chassis.
The system is armed with a computerized fire control mechanism, with the rockets capable of being fitted with various warheads. These include HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation), incendiary, smoke, illumination, and cargo warheads loaded with anti-tank or pre-fragmented anti-personnel sub-munitions. A mix of rocket types can be loaded. The 130mm rockets can reach up to 36 Km, while the larger 230 mm-class rockets boast a range of about 80 Km for the non-guided version and 160 Km for the guided variant.
