On Monday, August 12, 2024, the press service of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division named after King Kazimierz Jagiellończyk announced on social media that the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade named after Gen. Józef Bem had received the first four Homar-K (K239 Chunmoo) multiple rocket launchers mounted on the Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 chassis.
Photos: 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade
This is the third type of the latest weaponry for the Polish Armed Forces to be introduced into the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade (formed on December 12, 2022, replacing the 11th Masurian Artillery Regiment) in Węgorzewo, following the deliveries of 155mm K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and Homar-A (M142 HIMARS) multiple rocket launchers.
According to the announcement by the then Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, on August 29, 2023, the Homar-K rocket artillery systems will replace the aging WR-40 Langusta systems from the 3rd Rocket Artillery Group.
Previously, all Homar-K launchers were delivered to the 18th Artillery Regiment from Nowa Dęba, which is part of the 18th Mechanized Division. By December 30, 2023, 15 out of the 17 units that had been delivered to the country were sent there.
On June 11, 2024, a shipment arrived in Poland from the Republic of Korea, including twelve Homar-K multiple rocket launch modules. These modules were subsequently delivered to Huta Stalowa Wola (part of the Polish Armaments Group) for integration with Jelcz chassis, the Topaz battle management system, the Fonet digital vehicular communication platform, and the Radmor radio communication system from WB Group. The total number of launchers delivered by the Korean side now stands at 29 units.
On October 19, 2022, the Armament Agency signed a framework agreement with Hanwha Aerospace for the acquisition of 288 K239 Chunmoo launchers. On November 4, 2022, an executive agreement was signed for 218 launcher modules, along with logistical and training packages, a stockpile of ammunition, including several thousand precision-guided missiles with a range of 80 km (Chunmoo 239 mm Missile) and 290 km (Long Range Missile caliber 600 mm), as well as technical support from the manufacturer, for a net value of 3.55 billion USD.
During the visit of the Polish delegation to Korea on April 25 of this year, a second executive agreement was signed, valued at approximately 1.6 billion USD net (6.45 billion PLN net/7.93 billion PLN gross), for the delivery of 72 launcher modules, along with a logistical and training package and the integration of the Homar-K launchers. The agreement also includes the delivery of several thousand precision-guided missiles with a range of 80 km and 290 km (CTM-290), as well as technical support from the manufacturer. The delivery schedule is planned for the years 2026-2029. The total number of launchers will thus increase to 290 (with two additional units likely to be delivered to the Artillery and Armament Training Center in Toruń).
Do @16Dywizja zawitały HOMARY🦞najpotężniejsze skorupiaki polskiej artylerii🚀 Dzięki tym nowoczesnym wyrzutniom rakietowym, nasza dywizja zyskuje jeszcze większą siłę i gotowość do działania. Jesteśmy w pełni przygotowani na każde wyzwanie💪 pic.twitter.com/dya2mgUBqV
— 16 Dywizja Zmechanizowana (@16Dywizja) August 12, 2024