Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak, in the presence of Dongjoon Yoo Lim, Deputy Minister of Defence for Force and Resource Management of the Republic of Korea, and Il Sung, Deputy Minister of the Defence Procurement Planning Agency, approved a framework agreement for the supply of 288 modern Korean K239 Chunmoo launchers to the Polish Army.

“I would like to thank you for the very fruitful cooperation between Poland and South Korea in the field of defence. An analysis of the war in Ukraine shows the importance of artillery. Hence, we have decided to strengthen the Polish army with it, especially rocket artillery”, said Minister Błaszczak.

The head of the national defence ministry mentioned that in 2019, Poland signed an agreement with the United States on the acquisition of a HIMARS squadron for the Polish Armed Forces.

“The delivery of this equipment will take place next year. We have also submitted a request for larger deliveries, but unfortunately, due to limited industrial capacity, this equipment will not be delivered to us in a satisfactory timeframe”, said Deputy Prime Minister Blaszczak, and explained that, as a consequence, talks were held with South Korea, which resulted in the signing of a framework agreement for the delivery of the K239 Chunmoo.

The K239 Chunmoo is a self-propelled wheeled multi-propelled missile launcher capable of firing missiles of various calibres. It transports two missile containers, each capable of carrying six 239 mm calibre guided missiles with a range of about 80 km or one ballistic missile with a range of about 290 km.

According to Minister Błaszczak, the 18 launchers, coming to Poland next year, will be provided to the 18th Mechanised Division, and will therefore protect the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance and eastern Poland.

Adrian Andrzejewski