S. Korea inks 640 bln-won deal to export 19 Chunmoo rocket launchers to Croatia

Hanwha Aerospace Co., a prominent South Korean defense company, has finalized a significant arms deal with Croatia, exporting 18 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) for a contract valued at approximately 640 billion won, or $477 million, according to the state arms procurement agency. This marks the first major arms transaction between the two nations, potentially paving the way for expanded collaboration beyond military exports, including industrial cooperation and military logistics support, as stated in a release by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Croatia joins a select group of European nations to acquire the Chunmoo system, previously procured by Poland, Estonia, and Norway. The Chunmoo rocket launchers are a formidable South Korean artillery system primarily designed to counter the long-range artillery and multiple rocket launchers of North Korea. With an operational range extending up to 80 kilometers, the system is versatile, capable of both precision strikes against specific targets and cluster attacks to obliterate enemy positions over a broad area.

The signing ceremony was attended by key officials, including Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back of South Korea and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, underscoring the strategic importance of this defense partnership between the two countries.