Defence & Space

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. established

New subsidiary Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. complements Rheinmetall’s plant engineering expertise in planning, setting-up and operating of production…

2025-06-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Karkonosze Program: A Game-Changer for the Polish Air Force’s Tankers?

The Polish Air Force has been requesting the acquisition of aerial refueling tankers for years. The program to procure a multi-role transport…

2025-05-23 | Sławek Zagórski | 5 minutes

Swedish A26 Submarine and Poland’s Orka Program

In early April, Saab organized a visit for representatives of the Polish defense media to the Saab Kockums shipyard, located in Karlskrona…

2025-05-08 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 16 minutes

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. established

New subsidiary Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. complements Rheinmetall’s plant engineering expertise in planning, setting-up and operating of production…

2025-06-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Iberian Blackout: Is Poland Prepared for a Similar Scenario?

The blackout on the Iberian Peninsula has prompted a few cautious questions about whether Poland is secure in the event of…

2025-05-02 | Krzysztof Zagórski | 6 minutes

IDET & PYROS 2025: KALAN Tracked Amphibious Vehicle as the Successor to the PTS

During the International Fire Fighting Equipment and Services Fair PYROS (held alongside IDET 2025 in Brno), the Czech company New…

2025-05-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Patria AMV XP 8×8 with TURRA 30 Turret

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2025 in the Czech Republic, Finnish company Patria Oyj showcased its…

2025-05-29 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. established

New subsidiary Rheinmetall Resonant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. complements Rheinmetall’s plant engineering expertise in planning, setting-up and operating of production…

2025-06-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

IDET & PYROS 2025: KALAN Tracked Amphibious Vehicle as the Successor to the PTS

During the International Fire Fighting Equipment and Services Fair PYROS (held alongside IDET 2025 in Brno), the Czech company New…

2025-05-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Leonardo and Weststar Join Forces to Supply Helicopters to Malaysia

During the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Italian company Leonardo and Malaysian firm Weststar…

2025-05-20 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Rheinmetall receives major international orders for 155mm artillery ammunition

Rheinmetall Denel Munition has received two new orders for 155 mm ERFB artillery ammunition. International customer orders projectiles, propellants and…

2025-06-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Poland: Wizjer UAV Deliveries Have Begun

A ceremonial launch of deliveries for the Wizjer mini-class unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system took place in Bydgoszcz on Thursday, May…

2025-05-30 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 4 minutes

Polish Minister of Defence Travels to the U.S. for Meeting with Pete Hegseth

A press conference was held at the 1st Airlift Base with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz…

2025-05-26 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Another Meeting at the Polish Ministry of National Defence with a Delegation from South Korea’s DAPA

Polish Deputy Minister of National Defence Paweł Bejda met with Deputy Minister of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA),…

2025-05-14 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Airbus, CNES and VAST reaffirm commitment to strengthening EO capabilities in Vietnam

Airbus Defence and Space, the French Space Agency, and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology have signed a Declaration of…

2025-05-26 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

ICEYE and IHI start cooperation to develop SAR satellite constellation in Japan

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Japanese IHI Corporation are beginning cooperation in the construction of a constellation of up to 24…

2025-05-22 | Redakcja | 3 minutes
Shooting

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X and TLR-8 HL-X sub

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X flashlight with an integrated laser sight, producing a beam with up to 1,000 lumens of power, offering…

2025-03-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

Direct Action Spitfire Plate Carrier – Part 1: Testing the Carrier

Nowadays, the market offers a wide range of options in the gear and load-bearing equipment category. One of the most basic…

2025-05-08 | Michał Gaweł | 14 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Weapon light: a practical tool for everyday service. How to choose?

In the world of armed forces, where every second can determine the outcome of an operation, precision and effectiveness are…

2024-08-29 | Redakcja | 7 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

Direct Action Spitfire Plate Carrier – Part 1: Testing the Carrier

Nowadays, the market offers a wide range of options in the gear and load-bearing equipment category. One of the most basic…

2025-05-08 | Michał Gaweł | 14 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

An export ballistic missile for Chunmoo system with a range of 500 km

According to media reports, the National Security Council of the Republic of Korea has given preliminary approval for the export of ballistic missiles for the K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system, with an increased range of up to 500 km, at the request of a user from the Middle East.

On Monday, August 19, 2024, the South Korean newspaper Hankyung was the first to report, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense, that earlier in the month, the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea convened a National Security Council meeting, during which preliminary approval was given for the export of ballistic missiles for the K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system, with an increased range of up to 500 km, at the request of a user from the Middle East.

Photo: Hanwha Aerospace

“There was a request from one of the Middle Eastern countries to address the issue of the range of ballistic missiles used in multiple rocket launchers,” the newspaper’s source reported.

It is no secret that the only users of the K239 Chunmoo in the Middle East are the United Arab Emirates (which received 8 out of 12 ordered systems by 2021) and Saudi Arabia (with at least one rocket battalion). However, only Poland has decided to purchase ballistic missiles for its launchers. On April 25 of this year, the Polish Homar-K launcher test-fired the CTM-290 ballistic missile, which has a range of up to 290 km, for the first time (previously, on January 11 of this year, the missile was launched from the original K239 Chunmoo launcher).

On May 21, 2021, the United States lifted all existing limits on South Korea’s development of missile weaponry. However, this applies only to their own missile capabilities.

The Republic of Korea Air Force (Daehanminguk Gong-gun, ROKAF) possesses an arsenal of Hyunmu-2B ballistic missiles with an extended range from 300 km to 500 km, and Hyunmu-2A (300 km) with 1,000-kilogram warheads, while Hyunmu-1 (180 km, 500 kg) remains in reserve. Currently, the Hyunmu-4, with a range of 800 km and a warhead weighing over 2,500 kg, is under development. The ROKAF also has American MGM-140 ATACMS Block I (165 km) and Block IA (300 km) ballistic missiles in its inventory.

It’s different in the case of exports. They are subject to the restrictions of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) agreement from 1987, of which the Republic of Korea has been a signatory since March 2001 as the 33rd member. According to its provisions, there is a ban on the export of missiles with a range exceeding 300 km if the warhead weighs 500 kg.

Because the latest Hyunmu family missiles cannot be exported and are launched from heavy launchers, lighter missiles have been developed for the K239 Chunmoo. Since export users are requesting greater combat capabilities for their launchers amid tensions in the Middle East, South Korea aims to increase the range of export missiles at the expense of the warhead’s weight.

With the preliminary approval from the National Security Council, it is expected that the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which is also responsible for the export of military goods, will soon grant final approval for the changes related to the export of ballistic missiles. Based on this, domestic defense industry companies are expected to begin work on increasing the range of systems intended for export.

Kim Min-seok, a researcher at the Korea Defense Security Forum, told Hankyung:

In the future, improved missiles with an increased range will be produced and exported by reducing the warhead’s weight. This will also be a response to the KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles with a range of 900 km that North Korea exported to Russia. The export of long-range missiles from our country may also become possible.

However, some experts believe that this decision may conflict with the interpretation of the provisions of the MTCR agreement. Reports suggest that the government has decided to circumvent this by applying specific regulations.

A Ministry of Defense official explained to reporters:

In the case of Category 2 missiles, such as missiles for multiple rocket launchers, the control standard is based on the intent of the importing country. If the importing country states, ‘We are not importing the weaponry for weapons of mass destruction purposes,’ it may bypass the regulations.

It’s important to consider the political implications of this decision. If the request to increase the missile range comes from the Saudis or Emiratis, it could enable them to target locations in Iran. It’s likely that Russia will express dissatisfaction with this, but as mentioned, North Korea has supplied Moscow with KN-23 missiles for the war against Ukraine. Additionally, it’s possible that South Korean missile weaponry could eventually be supplied to Ukraine, as Seoul is currently considering changing its policy on not sending weapons.

https://twitter.com/KDefenseInsight/status/1825911406572515605

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