[Exclusive] Chunmoo to Be Exported to Croatia... Contract to Be Finalized on the 8th

Deliveries to Begin in 2028, Including 18 Launchers
Croatia Becomes Fourth European Country to Acquire Chunmoo

The domestically produced K-239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system will be exported to Croatia. Croatia will become the fourth European country to import the Chunmoo, with the reported export value reaching 400 million euros (633.5 billion won).

According to a government official, Hanwha Aerospace is scheduled to sign an export contract with Croatia on the 8th (local time), and plans to deliver the integrated system—including guided missiles and 18 launchers—over a two-year period starting from 2028. The Chunmoo uses both 239mm guided rockets and 230mm-class unguided rockets. The unguided rockets contain multiple smaller projectiles within a single large shell, capable of devastating an area equivalent to three football fields. This is why the Chunmoo has been nicknamed "Steel Rain." It is not yet known whether Croatia will choose to use the unguided rockets.

Croatia, located on the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe, has decided to increase its defense budget by 2030. The nation's defense spending will be gradually expanded from 2.01% of GDP in 2025 (approximately 1.82 billion euros) to 2.5% in 2027, 3% in 2030, and ultimately 5% in 2032. This is aimed at modernizing weapons systems, fostering the defense industry, and pursuing self-reliance in national defense.

Croatia is currently in conflict with Serbia. Although both countries were formerly part of the Yugoslav Federation and became independent following the collapse of communism, their relationship has deteriorated due to border disputes, the Kosovo issue, and civil war. Serbia is currently strengthening its military by importing fighter jets, drones, and air defense systems from Russia and China. As military tensions have heightened, Croatia reinstated conscription this year for the first time in 18 years.

Croatia is also showing interest in acquiring the Korean-made medium-range air defense system (M-SAM, also known as Cheongung-II). Until now, the country had focused solely on short-range missile air defense systems. However, the recent war between the United States and Iran has highlighted the need for countermeasures against not only drone threats but also far more destructive ballistic missiles. As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Croatia has demonstrated strong interest in the French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzers and medium-range air defense systems, in line with NATO’s efforts to strengthen collective defense. The situation changed after the U.S.-Iran conflict, and favorable reviews of the Cheongung-II from Middle Eastern countries prompted Croatia to reconsider its approach. In September last year, Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic visited South Korea to attend the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), which significantly advanced discussions regarding K-defense exports. Negotiations with LIG D&A (formerly LIG Nex1), the manufacturer of the Cheongung-II, are also reportedly underway.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.