South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS) will export its Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system to Croatia. The contract, valued at €435.2 million (approximately $506.3 million), covers 18 launchers and guided munitions, with a formal signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Croatia on the 8th.
Once finalized, Croatia will become the fourth European country to operate the Chunmoo, following Poland, Estonia, and Norway. The deal also marks Hanwha Aerospace’s first entry into the Croatian defense market.
Deliveries will take place over two years starting in 2028. Croatia’s decision to acquire the system stems from the need to replace its aging artillery capabilities. The Croatian military currently operates Soviet-era 122mm multiple rocket launchers, including the Vulkan M92 and Grad BM-21, which industry observers expect will be replaced by the Chunmoo.
The Chunmoo is a South Korean-made multiple launch rocket system with a maximum range of 450 kilometers. Since its deployment with the South Korean military in 2015, it has served as a key firepower asset for countering North Korea’s rocket artillery and long-range artillery. The system can fire 239mm guided rockets with an 80-kilometer range and 230mm unguided rockets capable of devastating an area the size of three football fields. Its launcher can travel at speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour and features protection against chemical, biological, and radiological attacks. It is nicknamed “Steel Rain.”
Croatia’s security concerns stem from the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions with neighboring Serbia. In response, the country plans to gradually increase its defense spending. Croatia aims to raise defense expenditure from 2.01% of GDP last year to 2.5% by 2027, 3% by 2030, and 5% by 2032. Defense spending last year totaled €1.8 billion (approximately $2.1 billion). This year, Croatia also reinstated conscription, which had been abolished in 2008, after an 18-year hiatus.
Croatia’s interest in South Korean weapons is expected to extend beyond the Chunmoo. The country is reportedly also considering the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system. The Cheongung-II’s combat-proven performance during the Middle East conflict — when the United Arab Emirates used it to intercept a barrage of Iranian missiles — has reportedly drawn significant interest from Croatian officials. Croatia is said to be in discussions with South Korea’s LIG Nex1 (079550.KS) regarding the Cheongung-II acquisition.
This export deal is expected to further strengthen the position of South Korean multiple rocket launchers in Europe. Following Poland’s large-scale procurement, the export footprint is now expanding from the Baltic states and Northern Europe to the Balkans. If Croatia also adopts the Cheongung-II, the influence of South Korean defense companies in the region could grow even further.