Biznes Fakty
A CGR-080 missile factory will be built in Poland. An agreement has been signed with a South Korean company.
The Polish WB Group and the South Korean firm Hanwha have finalized an agreement to create a CGR-800 missile manufacturing facility in Poland. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz highlighted that this deal will facilitate the domestic production of advanced ammunition and guarantee the transfer of cutting-edge technologies, benefiting the Polish defense sector.
The agreement was formalized by representatives from WB and Hanwha, the leading Polish private military equipment manufacturer and one of South Korea’s largest defense corporations, on Tuesday during the MSPO arms expo in Kielce.
Missiles for Korean Launchers
According to the investment agreement, a joint venture will be established in Poland to construct a 239mm CGR-080 missile factory intended for the Homar-K rocket launchers procured by the Polish Army, specifically the Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers mounted on Jelcz vehicles. The joint venture, initiated on Tuesday, will be predominantly owned by the Korean side with a 51% share, while the WB Group will retain a 49% interest.
Ultimately, the Polish Rocket and Artillery Forces are expected to operate 290 such launchers, each capable of launching up to 12 CGR-080 missiles in a single salvo at a range of approximately 80 km.
The upcoming facility in Poland will produce ammunition for the Polish Homar-K missiles, as well as equip allied nations that may order Chunmoo launchers in the future.
A letter of intent for the establishment of the missile factory in Poland was signed by WB and Hanwha in April. WB Group CEO Piotr Wojciechowski estimated that the initial missiles could roll off the production line in roughly three years.
Korean K239 Chunmoo Rocket Launcher Shutterstock„We Will Become Increasingly Independent”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz was present at the ceremony. In his address, he characterized the agreement’s signing as one of the most significant occurrences of this year’s Kielce trade show. He remarked that the accord enables Poland to develop the capability to produce modern missiles and entails a substantial transfer of technology.
„This signifies that we will be progressively more independent, more secure, and better prepared,” stated the Minister of National Defense. He assessed that the strategy to „promote the Polish defense industry internationally is producing results.” „We are increasingly manufacturing within Poland and through Polish private firms. We will grow significantly,” he proclaimed.
Kosiniak-Kamysz expressed gratitude to the representatives from the UK and Hanwha engaged in the initiative, as well as Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda and Deputy Minister of National Defense Hyunki Cho, who oversaw the project on behalf of both governments.
Korea Aims to Strengthen Cooperation
Hyunki Cho conveyed that the agreement marks the beginning of a new phase in Polish-Korean defense collaboration. He noted that the K239 Chunmoo launchers have become a flagship product of the Korean defense sector, and their future involves, among other things, deepening cooperation with Poland in the advancement of this type of equipment.
The WB Group stands as one of Poland’s largest private defense enterprises. It provides the Polish military with communication and combat management systems for artillery, including Krab self-propelled howitzers and Rak self-propelled mortars (TOPAZ system); communication systems for ground forces, fitted on Rosomak personnel carriers in various configurations; and unmanned systems, such as FlyEye and Warmate loitering munitions (known as kamikaze drones).
Hanwha, the Korean company, has had a presence in Poland and within the Polish armed forces for several years—this firm is the producer of hundreds of K9 howitzers ordered by Poland, along with K239 launchers.
