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Croatia has approved the purchase of 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple-rocket launchers in a deal worth around €544.1 million ($632 million), strengthening the country’s long-range precision-strike capabilities and replacing its aging Soviet- and Yugoslav-era artillery systems.

The Croatian government approved the acquisition as part of a broader effort to modernize the country’s armed forces. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2026 and 2029.

The package includes the Chunmoo launchers, missile ammunition, and associated equipment. South Korean defense company Hanwha Aerospace will supply the launchers and ammunition, while Poland’s WB Group will provide the command-and-control system needed to connect the systems into a single operational network.

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said the relatively short delivery timeline, availability, cost, and industrial cooperation opportunities were among the reasons Croatia selected the South Korean system.

“Due to the relatively short delivery times of 24 to 36 months, better availability, lower prices, and openness to industrial cooperation, the European countries Poland, Estonia, and the Kingdom of Norway are increasingly deciding to equip themselves with this unique system,” Anušić said, according to a statement released by the Croatian government.

The Chunmoo is increasingly being adopted by European countries seeking a long-range rocket artillery capability alongside or as an alternative to the U.S.-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

Replacing Aging Artillery Systems

The Croatian Army will use the Chunmoo systems to replace its outdated M-92 Vulkan and Soviet-designed BM-21 Grad multiple-rocket launchers. The existing systems are more than three decades old and have a range of roughly 20 kilometers, significantly below the distances offered by modern precision-guided rocket artillery.

The Chunmoo is a modular system capable of launching different types and calibers of rockets and missiles from the same vehicle. Depending on the ammunition configuration, the system can engage targets at ranges extending from around 30 kilometers to more than 300 kilometers.

The system uses two rocket pods that can carry different types of ammunition simultaneously. This allows crews to select different weapons depending on the target and mission without modifying the launcher.

The most powerful munition associated with the system is the 600mm CTM-290 ballistic missile, which has a range of more than 300 kilometers. The launcher can also fire guided 239mm rockets and smaller 131mm rockets.

Three soldiers operate each launcher. The Croatian government said the new system will provide the army with the ability to conduct precise strikes against targets at distances beyond the reach of conventional barrel and rocket artillery.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic described the acquisition as one of Croatia’s most important military investments since the country’s 1990s independence war.

“After Rafale, this is one of the largest and most important investments in the modernization of the Croatian Armed Forces since the end of the Homeland War,” Plenkovic said.

“For the first time, we are acquiring the ability to quickly and precisely engage targets at very long distances,” he added. Plenkovic also emphasized that the acquisition was intended to strengthen Croatia’s deterrence and contribute to wider European security.

“Croatia is investing in its defense capabilities, not to threaten anyone, but to deter any threat, guarantee the security of Croatian citizens, territory and national interests, and thus contribute to the collective security and defense of Europe,” he said.

Chunmoo Expands Across Europe

Croatia is becoming the latest European operator of the Chunmoo system, following Poland, Norway and Estonia. Poland has placed the largest order, covering hundreds of launchers and thousands of rockets, while also pursuing local production of Chunmoo ammunition. Norway has ordered 16 launchers and Estonia nine.

Both Poland and Estonia also operate HIMARS but have turned to Chunmoo to expand their long-range strike capabilities. The Chunmoo offers several advantages for European users, including its ability to employ different types of ammunition from a single launcher and its compatibility with longer-range munitions.

Croatia’s decision also comes as European countries face growing concerns over the availability and delivery schedules of U.S.-made weapons and ammunition.

Croatia had already agreed to purchase eight HIMARS launchers from the United States in December 2024 under a contract worth around $351 million. Those systems are expected to be delivered in 2028.

The Croatian government’s decision to acquire Chunmoo alongside HIMARS will give the Croatian Army two different long-range rocket artillery systems.

The Chunmoo purchase is also expected to provide Croatia with access to longer-range strike capabilities that have become increasingly important to European militaries.

Regional Security Concerns

Croatia’s investment comes amid a broader military modernization effort across NATO’s eastern and southeastern European members.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has previously pointed to the development of long-range rocket artillery capabilities in neighboring Serbia as one factor behind the country’s need to strengthen its own deterrent capabilities.

Serbia has acquired the Israeli-made PULS multiple-rocket launcher and has expressed interest in additional long-range weapons. Questions remain over the exact range and availability of the munitions acquired for Serbia’s PULS systems.

The growing presence of long-range precision weapons in the Balkans is contributing to a wider modernization of land forces across the region, with countries seeking systems capable of striking targets well beyond the range of older artillery.

Croatia’s Chunmoo acquisition is therefore part of a broader shift away from legacy artillery systems toward precision-guided, networked and longer-range weapons.

Fast Delivery and Industrial Cooperation

One of the main attractions of the Chunmoo deal for Zagreb is the expected delivery schedule. The Croatian government has said deliveries will take place between 2026 and 2029, with most of the systems expected to arrive by 2028.

The procurement also includes logistics support and crew training. Around 100 soldiers are expected to be required to operate all 18 launchers, while the final basing locations of the systems have not been disclosed.

Industrial cooperation was another factor in Croatia’s decision. Hanwha Aerospace will provide the launchers, missiles and related equipment, while Poland’s WB Group will integrate its command-and-control system into the Croatian vehicles.

The arrangement will allow the launchers, ammunition and command systems to operate as a connected force rather than as standalone artillery units.

The deal follows growing defense cooperation between South Korean and European companies as European militaries seek to accelerate procurement and replace older equipment.

Wider Military Buildup

The Chunmoo purchase is one of several major defense programs underway in Croatia. The country previously acquired 12 second-hand Rafale F3-R fighter jets from France, with the aircraft forming the centerpiece of its effort to modernize its air force.

Croatia has also contracted for eight HIMARS launchers from the United States. The country is now preparing additional major acquisitions, including a medium-range air defense system estimated to cost between $581 million and $697 million, as well as two corvettes expected to cost approximately $1.16 billion combined.

Croatia is a member of both NATO and the European Union. Its defense spending reached 2.08% of gross domestic product last year, with approximately $2.2 billion allocated to defense.

The acquisition of the Chunmoo systems will significantly expand Croatia’s ground-based precision-strike capabilities and mark a major departure from the short-range artillery systems that have equipped its army for decades.

By combining Chunmoo launchers with its planned HIMARS fleet, Croatia will have a broader range of options for precision fires, while its participation in the growing European Chunmoo user base could also improve opportunities for regional logistics, training and industrial cooperation.