Poland Moves Towards Domestic Guided Missile Production as Hanwha and WB Group Break Ground on New Facility.
Poland Strengthens Defence Manufacturing With Hanwha-WB Guided Missile Production Project.
Hanwha WB Advanced System (HWBAS) Poland Facility: Poland has taken another step towards strengthening its domestic defence manufacturing capabilities with the groundbreaking of a new guided missile production facility in Gorzów Wielkopolski. The project, being developed by Hanwha WB Advanced System (HWBAS), a joint venture between South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace and Poland’s WB Electronics, is expected to establish a local manufacturing base for CGR080 guided missiles used by the Polish Armed Forces.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 4 November 2026, marking an important milestone in the growing defence-industrial partnership between Poland and South Korea. The facility is intended to go beyond the local assembly or supply of military equipment by establishing production infrastructure, transferring technology and developing specialised engineering and manufacturing expertise within Poland.
The project comes at a time when European countries are placing greater emphasis on strengthening domestic defence industries, securing military supply chains and reducing dependence on external sources of critical military equipment.
For Poland, the investment is particularly relevant as Warsaw continues to modernise its armed forces and expand its defence manufacturing capabilities amid an increasingly challenging European security environment.
Hanwha-WB Joint Venture Takes Next Step Towards Local Production
HWBAS was established in September 2025 as a partnership between South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, which holds a 51 per cent stake, and Poland’s WB Electronics, a subsidiary of WB Group, which owns the remaining 49 per cent.
The joint venture combines Hanwha Aerospace’s guided missile technology and manufacturing experience with WB Group’s established industrial presence and knowledge of the Polish defence market.
The establishment of the company provided the industrial framework for developing local production capabilities. The groundbreaking in Gorzów Wielkopolski now takes that partnership into the infrastructure development stage.
According to the companies, preliminary site works have already begun, with the latest ceremony formally marking progress towards constructing the production facility.
Held under the theme ‘BUILDING CAPABILITY. SHAPING THE FUTURE’, the event brought together approximately 250 representatives from the Polish and South Korean governments and defence industries.
Those attending included Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Secretary of State at Poland’s Ministry of National Defence; Colonel Robert Frommholz, Deputy Head of the Polish Armament Agency; Gorzów Wielkopolski Mayor Jacek Wójcicki; and senior representatives of South Korea’s defence acquisition administration and diplomatic establishment.
Hanwha Aerospace President and CEO Billy Boo-hwan Lee, WB Group President Piotr Wojciechowski and HWBAS CEO Jin Cheol Jeon also attended.
CGR080 Guided Missiles to Be Manufactured in Poland
The principal purpose of the new facility is to manufacture CGR080 guided missiles locally for Poland’s HOMAR-K rocket artillery system.
The project builds on an agreement reached in December 2025, when a consortium led by HWBAS signed a contract with Poland’s Armament Agency to supply CGR080 missiles manufactured in Poland.
This agreement established the basis for moving towards domestic production rather than relying exclusively on supplies manufactured outside the country.
The CGR080 is intended for integration with the HOMAR-K system, which forms part of Poland’s effort to strengthen its long-range rocket artillery capabilities.
The development of a dedicated production facility is expected to support the Polish Armed Forces by providing a domestic manufacturing base for these guided munitions. It will also contribute to developing the country’s missile stockpile and supporting the long-term availability of ammunition for military operations.
An important feature of the project is that the investment is not limited to establishing a manufacturing plant. It also includes plans for developing local technical expertise, production processes and maintenance capabilities.
Hanwha and WB Group Begin Construction of Guided Missile Plant in Poland for HOMAR-K System.
Technology Transfer at the Centre of the Partnership
One of the most significant aspects of the project is the transfer of technology and engineering expertise from South Korea to Poland.
A licensing agreement between Hanwha Aerospace and HWBAS provides the framework under which CGR080 missiles will be manufactured in Poland.
Technology transfer is an important component of international defence-industrial partnerships because it enables the recipient country to develop capabilities beyond simply purchasing finished military equipment.
In this case, the intention is to embed the necessary manufacturing knowledge, engineering processes and technical expertise within Polish operations.
The objective is to create a sustainable industrial base supported by locally trained personnel, specialised infrastructure and established manufacturing procedures.
The companies also intend to develop maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities throughout the operational life cycle of the systems.
MRO capabilities are particularly important in defence manufacturing because military equipment requires regular maintenance, technical inspections, repairs and upgrades to remain operational over extended periods.
Having these capabilities within Poland could reduce dependence on external maintenance support and improve the country’s ability to sustain its military equipment.
It would also help develop a domestic industrial ecosystem around the HOMAR-K programme.
Strengthening Poland’s Defence Industrial Base
The new missile facility is part of Poland’s broader effort to strengthen its defence-industrial base and develop greater independence in the production and maintenance of military equipment.
For European countries, the ability to manufacture critical defence equipment domestically has become an increasingly important consideration. Disruptions to international supply chains, changing security requirements and the need to maintain military readiness have highlighted the importance of reliable local production.
Poland’s partnership with South Korea provides an example of how international defence cooperation can be used to build domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Rather than limiting the relationship to equipment procurement, the arrangement combines foreign technology with local industrial participation.
This approach could provide Poland with several long-term benefits, including the development of specialised manufacturing skills, greater control over parts of its defence supply chain and improved capacity to maintain military equipment.
The project is also intended to support the sustainability of the HOMAR-K programme by establishing local capabilities that can serve the system throughout its operational life.
However, the actual scale of domestic production, manufacturing capacity and the timeline for beginning operations have not yet been specified in the announcement.
South Korea-Poland Defence Partnership Advances With New CGR080 Missile Production Facility.
Developing Local Skills and Industrial Expertise
Another important dimension of the investment is workforce development.
HWBAS has already begun building links with vocational education institutions in Gorzów Wielkopolski through a letter of intent with CEZiB.
The arrangement provides a framework for cooperation in areas such as internships, apprenticeships, practical workshops and curriculum development.
The objective is to prepare local students and prospective employees with the technical skills required for future manufacturing operations.
This is significant because establishing a defence production facility involves more than constructing buildings and installing industrial equipment. It also requires a skilled workforce capable of operating production systems, maintaining machinery, following quality standards and managing specialised manufacturing processes.
By connecting industrial investment with vocational education, HWBAS aims to create a local talent pool that can support the facility over the long term.
The project is therefore expected to have an industrial and employment dimension beyond its immediate defence manufacturing role, contributing to the development of the wider Lubuskie region.
HWBAS CEO Jin Cheol Jeon described the groundbreaking as an important step towards establishing a lasting industrial presence in Poland.
He emphasised that the objective was not simply to construct a production facility but also to develop the processes, expertise and workforce required to translate transferred technology into regular manufacturing operations.
WB Group President Piotr Wojciechowski said the partnership would make Gorzów Wielkopolski home to a facility dedicated to producing advanced missile systems for the Polish Armed Forces. He also acknowledged the support of local authorities in bringing the investment forward.
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Billy Boo-hwan Lee described the project as part of a broader industrial partnership with Poland.
He said the companies intended to combine licensed technology and established production knowledge with the expertise and manufacturing capabilities being developed locally.
Lee also indicated that production in Poland could eventually provide a foundation for exploring potential opportunities in other European markets.
This suggests that the partners view the investment not only as a means of supporting Polish defence requirements but also as a possible starting point for wider industrial cooperation in Europe.
Could the Facility Support Wider European Markets?
While the immediate priority is to establish domestic CGR080 production for Poland, the partnership has also identified potential opportunities in European markets over the longer term.
A locally established manufacturing base could provide a platform for expanding industrial cooperation, depending on future requirements, regulatory approvals and commercial agreements.
However, the companies have not announced specific export contracts or confirmed plans for supplying other European countries from the new facility.
For now, the focus remains on developing the infrastructure, transferring the required technology, training personnel and preparing for manufacturing operations in Poland.
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A Long-Term Investment in Defence Manufacturing
The groundbreaking of the HWBAS facility represents a development in Poland’s approach to defence procurement and industrial cooperation.
The partnership with South Korea demonstrates how international defence agreements can extend beyond the delivery of military equipment to include technology transfer, local production, skills development and life-cycle support.
For Poland, the project is intended to strengthen the domestic industrial base supporting the HOMAR-K programme while improving the country’s ability to manufacture and sustain guided missile systems.
For Hanwha Aerospace and WB Group, it provides an opportunity to establish a long-term industrial partnership built around local manufacturing and technological cooperation.
The immediate milestone is the construction of the Gorzów Wielkopolski facility. The longer-term objective is to create a sustainable Polish production capability supported by skilled workers, domestic infrastructure and specialised technical expertise.
As European countries continue to reassess their defence manufacturing requirements, projects such as this highlight the growing importance of industrial partnerships that combine international technology with domestic production capabilities.
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