South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace and Polish electronics and aeronautics manufacturer WB Group have established a Poland-based joint venture to produce CGR-080 missiles for the Chunmoo multiple rocket launch system.
The Chunmoo launcher vehicle is equipped with a carrier capable of carrying up to six 239 mm guided missiles. Each guided missile has a range of about 80 kilometers, while a ballistic missile has a range of approximately 290 kilometers.
The deal was formalized Tuesday after Piotr Wojciechowski, chairman of WB Group, signed the agreement with Billy Boo-hwan Lee, head of Hanwha Aerospace PGM Business Group. Lee expects the JV with WB Group will help push the growth of the Polish industrial capability while modernizing the Polish armed forces.
The JV will see Hanwha hold a 51 percent stake, while the Polish defense will take the 49 percent remaining shares. It is expected to be operational upon receiving regulatory approval from the Polish Antimonopoly Committee.
Wojciechowski emphasized how the JV and its new facility in Poland represent a new beginning for missile production in the country. “The factory will increase Poland’s independence in ammunition production and provide huge potential for industrial and economic growth,” he said.
In 2022, Hanwha Defense received a contract from Poland to supply 288 K239 Chunmoo launchers, with deliveries expected to start in 2023.