Croatia signs deal for 18 rocket launchers from South Korea

South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract with Croatia’s Ministry of Defence on September 10, 2026, to supply 18 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher systems, the company’s first defense deal with Croatia.

The contract is worth 411.8 million euros (roughly $478 million).

The signing ceremony took place at the Office of the Prime Minister in Zagreb and drew senior officials from both governments: Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivan Anušić, South Korean National Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Lee Yong-cheol, South Korean Ambassador to Croatia Lee Seung-bum, and Hanwha Aerospace’s Head of Business Operations Billy Boo-hwan Lee.

The deal covers 18 Chunmoo launchers along with ammunition carriers, fire-direction command vehicles and integrated logistics support. It also includes several types of precision-guided rockets for short-, medium- and long-range missions, plus training and lifecycle support. Deliveries are scheduled to run through 2030.

“Today’s signing marks the beginning of Hanwha Aerospace’s long-term defence partnership with Croatia,” said Billy Boo-hwan Lee, Head of Business Operations at Hanwha Aerospace. “We are honored that Chunmoo has been selected to support the modernization of the Croatian Armed Forces, and we look forward to delivering proven capabilities, reliable lifecycle support and enduring partnership for many years to come.”

K-239 Chunmoo system during exercise Freedom Shield 26 on Yeonpyeong Island, Republic of Korea, March 16, 2026. Photo by Meshaq Hylton

“This is one of the largest investments in the equipment and modernization of the Croatian Armed Forces,” said Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia. “With the Chunmoo system, the Croatian Armed Forces acquire a new strategic capability for fast and precise action, with high-value targets at distances from approximately 30 to 300 kilometers.”

Chunmoo is an 8×8 wheeled rocket launcher that carries two rocket pods at a time and can fire different types of guided munitions depending on the target’s range. Its modular design lets buyers mix rocket types and link the launcher to their own command-and-control systems rather than adopting South Korea’s setup wholesale.

Croatia’s launchers will run on the Topaz battlefield management system built by Poland’s WB Group, the same system Poland uses to network its own Chunmoo fleet. Hanwha said the shared system will help Croatia’s launchers operate alongside other European Chunmoo users.

Croatia becomes the fourth European country to buy Chunmoo, following Poland, Estonia and Norway. Poland has ordered 290 launchers across two contracts, the largest Chunmoo order to date, while Norway signed a $922 million deal for 16 units in February 2026. Estonia bought an initial batch in October 2025 and added three more launchers in a follow-on order this past May. Hanwha has also committed $115.5 million to build a sustainment and repair center and an ammunition factory in Estonia, part of a broader push to build local industrial ties alongside its export sales.

Hanwha said it plans to launch a formal Chunmoo User Club in 2027, following a workshop for the system’s European operators held in Estonia on September 3.