TALLINN, Estonia — May 11, 2026 : Estonia has signed a follow-on agreement for the procurement of three additional K239 Chunmoo Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) from South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace, further strengthening the country’s long-range precision strike capabilities and expanding defense-industrial cooperation between Tallinn and Seoul.
The government-to-government agreement was finalized on May 11, 2026, between the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The latest acquisition comes five months after Estonia signed its initial €290 million contract with Hanwha Aerospace in December 2025 for six Chunmoo launchers, associated munitions, and operational support packages.
With the new order, the Estonian Defence Forces will field a total of nine K239 Chunmoo systems. Deliveries of the first launchers under the original agreement are expected to begin during the second half of 2027.
Layered Long-Range Strike Capability
The procurement package includes three categories of guided munitions designed to provide Estonia with layered long-range strike capability across different operational ranges.
The CGR-080 guided rockets, fired from the 239 mm launcher pods, provide precision strike capability at distances of up to 80 kilometers. Estonia is also acquiring CTM-MR medium-range precision missiles and CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to 290 kilometers.
The K239 Chunmoo system is designed to deliver rapid precision fire while maintaining high battlefield mobility. Mounted on an 8×8 high-mobility truck chassis, the launcher is capable of rapid deployment and relocation after firing to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery attacks.
The launcher platform features a dual-pod configuration, allowing operators to carry mixed munition loads depending on mission requirements. In its standard rocket configuration, a single launcher can fire up to 12 precision-guided rockets within one minute.
Expanding Estonia–South Korea Defense Cooperation
The latest agreement further expands Estonia’s defense partnership with South Korea, which began with Tallinn’s procurement of K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers in 2018.
In addition to launcher and missile procurement, cooperation between Estonia and Hanwha Aerospace includes planned industrial investments in Estonia’s defense sector. The partnership covers maintenance infrastructure, ammunition production, and local industrial integration intended to support long-term sustainment capabilities.
Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur stated that the additional launchers represent a significant enhancement of Estonia’s military capability and reflect increasingly active cooperation with South Korean defense partners.
“The contract for three additional Chunmoo systems represents a significant capability development and reflects our increasingly active and effective cooperation with our South Korean partners,” Pevkur said.
He added that artillery rocket systems remain an important component of Estonia’s ongoing military modernization efforts.
Jae-il Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, said the follow-on order would further strengthen Estonia’s defense capabilities and defense-industrial ecosystem while supporting the company’s broader expansion across the Baltic and Nordic regions.
Growing European Interest in South Korean Defense Systems
The rapid follow-on purchase reflects increasing European demand for South Korean defense systems, particularly among NATO member states seeking to modernize long-range artillery and precision strike capabilities.
Estonia joins Poland and Norway as NATO countries that have selected the Chunmoo system as part of broader artillery modernization programs.
The Chunmoo systems are expected to complement Estonia’s existing M142 HIMARS launchers and strengthen NATO’s long-range strike capability along the alliance’s eastern flank.
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