ZAGREB — Croatia has signed a contract worth approximately €410 million (640 billion South Korean won) with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace for 18 K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). The agreement was signed in Zagreb on September 10, 2026, marking the first major defence acquisition between Croatia and South Korea.
The contract includes 18 self-propelled launchers, rocket ammunition, ammunition transport vehicles, fire-direction command vehicles, integrated logistics support, crew training and maintenance training. Deliveries are planned to begin within 24 to 36 months, with the systems scheduled to be operational by 2029. DAPA said the contract will also support longer-term industrial, logistics and follow-on cooperation with Croatia.
The signing ceremony was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ivan Anušić, South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back, DAPA Commissioner Lee Yong-cheol, South Korea’s ambassador to Croatia and Hanwha Aerospace representatives. The two governments also signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, covering wider defence ties and technology cooperation.
Croatia’s cabinet approved a broader €544 million procurement package. Part of the funding will cover integration of Poland’s WB Electronics TOPAZ combat and fire-control system to support interoperability. Croatian company Končar is also set to cooperate with Hanwha on local component integration, maintenance training and depot-level lifecycle support, although the exact production share is still under review.
The Chunmoo systems will replace Croatia’s ageing M-92 Vulkan and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers. They will complement eight U.S.-made M142 HIMARS systems ordered by Croatia in December 2024, giving the Croatian Army a combined fleet of 26 modern wheeled rocket launchers.
The K239 Chunmoo uses an 8×8 wheeled chassis and has a crew of three. It can carry different types of ammunition through its dual-pod launcher. The Croatian configuration includes 131 mm unguided rockets with a range of about 36 km, 239 mm GPS/INS-guided rockets with ranges of up to 80 km, and CTM-290 tactical missiles with ranges of up to 290 km, depending on the missile variant and configuration. The launcher uses an onboard crane to change pre-packaged ammunition pods.
Croatia is the fourth European country to select the Chunmoo, after Poland, Estonia and Norway. The system is also in service with customers in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Plenković described the purchase as one of Croatia’s major recent defence investments, comparable in importance to the country's acquisition of Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. The procurement forms part of Croatia’s wider military modernisation programme as Zagreb increases defence spending to meet its NATO capability commitments.
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