The deal was signed in Warsaw between the defence ministry, on the one hand, and Polish–South Korean joint venture company Hanwha WB Advanced Systems and South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace corporation, on the other, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Under the contract, about 10,000 CGR-080 precision-guided rockets, capable of striking targets up to 80 kilometres away, are to be delivered between 2030 and 2033.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the deal was the third contract signed under Poland’s HOMAR-K programme and marked a step toward domestic production.
“Technology transfer, production licensing and independence in manufacturing are becoming a reality,” Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
He added that Poland aims to become a European hub for the production and export of rockets for South Korea's Chunmoo system.
The HOMAR-K is the Polish version of South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket system, mounted on Polish-made Jelcz trucks, and is a key element of Poland’s artillery modernisation drive.
Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Bejda said the agreement marked the first time Poland would domestically produce artillery rockets.
"This sends a clear message to our opponents," Bejda said.
Kang Hoon-sik, a senior aide to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, said the agreement elevated bilateral defence cooperation.
Poland and South Korea are already cooperating on K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers and the Chunmoo rocket system, he said.
The CGR-080 rockets will be manufactured in the western Polish city of Gorzów Wielkopolski, according to officials.
The HOMAR-K system is comparable to the US-made HIMARS platform, which has been used effectively by Ukrainian forces against Russia.
Like HIMARS, the HOMAR-K can fire a range of munitions, including ballistic missiles capable of striking targets up to 300 kilometres away, officials said.
Hanwha WB Advanced Systems was established in September by Hanwha Aerospace and Poland’s WB Group, one of the country’s largest privately owned defence contractors.
Hanwha Aerospace has supplied military equipment to Poland for several years, including K9 howitzers and the Chunmoo rocket system.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP