On Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Changwon in the Gyeongsang Province of South Korea, in the presence of the Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense, Paweł Bejda, the Polish Armament Agency signed a second executive agreement with the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace for the delivery of multiple rocket launcher modules Homar-K (Visit of the Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda to South Korea).
Photos: Hanwha Aerospace
The subject of the executive agreement, valued at approximately 1.6 billion USD net (6.45 million PLN net / 7.93 billion PLN gross), is the delivery of 72 multiple rocket launcher modules along with logistical and training packages and the integration of the Homar-K launcher. The agreement also includes the delivery of several thousand precision-guided munitions with ranges of 80 km and 290 km (CTM-290) as well as technical support from the manufacturer (Hanwha Aerospace increases the level of Polish involvement in production of the Homar-K launchers).
Delivery schedules have been planned for the years 2026-2029.
The Polish side was represented, besides Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, by the head of the Armament Agency Brig. Gen. Dr. Artur Kuptel and the Secretary of State at the Ministry of State Assets Marcin Kulasek. The Korean side was represented by the Minister in the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) at the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, Seok Jong-gun, the Deputy Minister in the Office of Military Resources Management, Sung Il, and the Director of the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Park Jong-Seung.
The assumption of the above agreement, which is also a continuation of the entire project involving the acquisition of a total of 290 Homar-K launcher modules, includes, among other things, technology transfer covering module servicing and production of spare parts on the territory of the Republic of Poland, as well as the establishment of industrial capacity for further launcher production and the production of rocket missiles and transport-launch containers enabling the use of 122 mm rocket ammunition in the launchers produced at Mesko facilities (part of the Polish Armaments Group), which will be the subject of future executive agreements.
The contract for 198 Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 base chassis was concluded as early as December 21, 2023. Homar-K launchers are integrated with the Automated Fire Control System Topaz, the digital vehicle communication platform Fonet, and the radio communication system Radmor, provided by the WB Group.
This contract signifies our dedication to supporting the enhancement of security in Poland and the region, irrespective of political and societal changes. Hanwha Aerospace is proud of our ongoing dedication to delivering deterrence solutions to regions with urgent demands, said Jaeil Son, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace.
The first executive agreement related to the acquisition of rocket launcher modules from the Korean side was concluded on November 4, 2022, in Warsaw. The subject of the agreement was the delivery of 218 multiple rocket launcher (MRL) and their integration with Jelcz chassis, along with logistical and training packages and a stockpile of ammunition, including several thousand precision-guided missiles with ranges of 80 km and 290 km, as well as technical support from the manufacturer, for a total amount of 3.55 billion USD net.
The Homar-K system is based on South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, adapted to the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, capable of firing several types of guided missiles. The launcher is equipped with two rocket containers, which can accommodate 2 types of rockets. Each container can hold, depending on the ammunition used: 6 guided missiles with a caliber of 239 mm and a range of 80 km, or 1 guided tactical missile with a caliber of 600 mm and a range of 290 km.
On March 7 of this year, during the 7th session of the Polish Sejm, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, who is responsible for overseeing the technical modernization of the Polish Armed Forces at the Ministry of National Defense, spoke about plans to continue purchasing Homar-K launchers.
Meanwhile, by December 30, 2023, a total of 15 Homar-K launchers from the first executive agreement (out of 17 that arrived in the country) were delivered to the 18th Mechanized Division. Additionally, between April 2nd and April 22nd of this year, a training course for instructors on the construction and operation of Homar-K launchers took place at the Artillery and Armament Training Center in Toruń.
https://twitter.com/AgencjaUzbr/status/1783376774140756014
https://twitter.com/pawelbejda/status/1783350745598955691?s=19
https://twitter.com/HanwhaEurope/status/1783413754908041681
Statement of the Armament Agency:
Due to the wide interest in the topic of acquiring the Homar-K rocket launchers and analyses by journalists and military experts based on incomplete knowledge arising from a lack of access to documents, we would like to inform that the Armament Agency, as one of the institutions involved in the process of acquiring military equipment and the entire lifecycle, carries out its tasks in accordance with the Central Material Plans resulting from the Armed Forces Development Program.
It should be noted that within their needs, the Armed Forces determine the quantity of military equipment necessary to ensure combat and training capabilities. Therefore, in the planning process of acquiring equipment, not only the experiences resulting from the armed conflict in Ukraine are taken into account, but also the training needs of the peacetime military.
Currently, the Ministry of National Defense is conducting an analysis of needs, which, among other things, will determine the quantity of launchers necessary for acquisition for the Polish Armed Forces. Technology transfer supporting the production of missiles is ensured.
Referring to the executive agreement regarding the acquisition of Homar-K launchers, it should be noted that in the framework agreement concluded on October 19, 2022, provisions were included indicating, among other things, the signing by December 2025 of an agreement regarding the establishment of production and service capacity for missile production in selected Polish defense industry facilities. Currently, negotiations are underway between the Polish defense industry and Hanwha Aerospace regarding elements subject to technology transfer.
The Armament Agency, as an institution responsible for acquiring military equipment and managing contracts, actively participates in the ongoing negotiations. It should also be remembered that the process of building production capabilities for ammunition of this type requires not only adequate financial resources and technology but above all human resources and time.
Additionally, calculating costs over the entire 30-year lifecycle of military equipment, without access to reliable data, is subject to errors.
https://twitter.com/AgencjaUzbr/status/1783795108854243681
Based on press release