Defense Minister Visits Croatia for 'Cheonmu' Export Contract Ceremony

Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back is visiting Croatia on the occasion of the export contract for the domestically produced Multiple Launch Rocket System ‘Cheonmu.’ This marks the first time that South Korea is exporting defense products to Croatia.

Multiple Launch Rocket System ‘Cheonmu’. Provided by Hanwha Aerospace

According to the Ministry of National Defense on September 9, Minister Ahn will be in Croatia from September 9 to September 11 at the request of the Croatian Ministry of Defense.

On September 10 (local time), Minister Ahn is scheduled to meet with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and attend the Cheonmu contract signing ceremony. During the visit, he will promote the excellence of the Korean defense industry and emphasize his commitment to cooperation with Croatia.

The Ministry of National Defense assessed that this Cheonmu contract represents South Korea’s first defense export to Croatia and evaluated it as a milestone for developing a mutually beneficial relationship based on the two countries’ defense partnership.

The Cheonmu is a domestically developed Multiple Launch Rocket System operated to counter threats such as North Korea’s multiple rocket launchers and long-range artillery. It has a maximum range of 80 kilometers and can deploy high-explosive guided rockets and cluster guided rockets, among others.

Previously, the Cheonmu was exported to NATO member states such as Poland, Estonia, and Norway. Upon conclusion of the contract with Croatia, it would become the fourth European country to adopt the Cheonmu system.

During this visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation between the two countries is also expected to be signed. The Ministry of National Defense plans to establish an institutional foundation to systemically advance defense and defense industry cooperation. Additionally, Minister Ahn plans to discuss strategic cooperation measures to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

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