South Korea’s Hanwha Group Will Supply K239 Chunmoo MRLs to Estonia
Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo Rocket Launcher.
Seoul, South Korea — October 23, 2025 — In a strategic move to bolster its military capabilities, Estonia has signed a defense cooperation agreement with South Korea to purchase the K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), enhancing the country’s deep-strike capabilities. The agreement, signed by Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and his South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back, was announced by the Estonian Ministry of Defence (MoD) later the same day.
The deal marks a significant step for Estonia, a NATO member state with a border directly adjacent to Russia. As tensions continue to shape European security dynamics, Estonia’s decision to acquire the advanced South Korean-made K239 Chunmoo launchers comes amid the country’s push to improve its deterrence and defense readiness.
Strengthening Defence with South Korean Technology
Estonia’s focus on developing deep-strike capabilities began with its acquisition of the US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers in 2022. The country has already received six HIMARS units in early 2025, with plans for more units expected from the US. However, in an effort to diversify its defense suppliers and ensure operational flexibility, Estonia has turned to South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace for additional firepower.
Minister Pevkur emphasized that the acquisition of the Chunmoo system, alongside the additional HIMARS systems, is part of a broader strategy to enhance Estonia’s defense posture both on a national level and within the context of NATO’s collective security. “To this end, it is necessary to increase Estonia’s deep-strike capability with additional rocket launchers,” Pevkur stated.
The K239 Chunmoo launchers are expected to significantly increase Estonia’s ability to conduct long-range precision strikes, potentially deep into enemy territory. The system complements Estonia’s existing artillery assets, including the K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, which are also manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace.
Economic and Industrial Impact
The deal has broader implications beyond military strategy. According to Pevkur, the procurement agreement with South Korea includes a localization clause that will channel tens of millions of euros into the Estonian defense industry. This provision ensures that the deal will have a direct economic benefit, creating new jobs and stimulating the local defense sector.
Further technical discussions between Estonia’s Centre for Defence Investments, Hanwha Aerospace, and the South Korean export agency will be held to finalize quantities, delivery schedules, and the specifics of the contract. The first deliveries of the Chunmoo MRLs are expected to take place within two to three years, contingent on successful negotiations and training requirements for Estonian personnel.
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Estonia Joins European K239 Chunmoo Operators
Once the Chunmoo launchers arrive, Estonia will become the second European country to operate the system, following Poland, which ordered over 200 of the launchers in 2022. Poland has already received its first K239 units, which are designated “Homar-K” in Polish service. Estonia’s move will align it with Poland, which has been expanding its artillery systems and has been integrating the Chunmoo alongside its HIMARS units.
Poland is also working with Hanwha Aerospace to locally produce the Chunmoo missiles, with plans to begin production in 2025. The partnership between Polish defense firm WB Electronics and Hanwha Aerospace aims to supply the system’s missiles domestically, with potential future exports to other European countries, solidifying the region’s reliance on South Korean artillery technology.
Estonia has also expressed interest in collaborating with Poland on training, with Pevkur telling the Estonian news outlet ERR that Warsaw has offered a training program to help Estonian personnel prepare for the Chunmoo system. “If negotiations go well, it might be sooner, but by that time, our own teams will have been trained,” he said.
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A Strategic Shift in European Defense
The increased cooperation between Estonia, South Korea, and Poland underscores the growing trend of European nations diversifying their defense procurement sources in response to shifting geopolitical threats, particularly with regard to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
With Estonia’s acquisition of the Chunmoo and additional HIMARS units, the country is positioning itself to enhance its ability to conduct precision strikes over longer distances, complementing NATO’s collective defense architecture. As these systems are delivered and integrated into Estonia’s military structure, the Baltic nation will become a more formidable force within NATO, bolstering its deterrence capabilities and contributing to the broader security of the alliance.
As the global security landscape continues to evolve, Estonia’s decision to invest in the K239 Chunmoo system reflects a broader shift in defense strategies across Europe, with countries increasingly turning to non-traditional partners such as South Korea to meet their military needs. With deliveries expected within the next few years and training programs underway, Estonia’s defense transformation is well underway — a development that will undoubtedly influence the region’s defense dynamics for years to come.
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