On the morning of Monday, October 7, 2024, a transport ship arrived at the port of Gdańsk from the Republic of Korea, carrying 12 K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and 4 Homar-K multiple rocket launcher modules on board.
Photo: Paweł Bejda via X
“After a short weekend break, we are back to reporting on key weapon deliveries for the Polish Armed Forces. This time, we report on the shipment of 12 K9 howitzers and 4 Homar-K multiple rocket launcher modules, which will undergo integration with Polish components,” the Polish Armament Agency announced on the social media platform X.
“New week, new challenges. This morning, another sea transport arrived in Gdańsk with 12 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 4 Homar-K launcher modules. We are systematically strengthening the defensive capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces — this is our mission,” stated Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense, responsible for overseeing the technical modernization of the Polish Armed Forces.
The new deliveries of heavy weaponry from South Korea come shortly after a transport ship carrying another six K2 Heuk-Pyo (Black Panther) tanks in the GF (Gap Filler) version arrived at the port of Świnoujście on October 3.
K9A1 Thunder
The fourth delivery of K9A1 Thunder howitzers to Poland this year has just been completed. The first three took place on June 11, consisting of 6 guns, August 25 with 12 units, and September 11, also with 12 howitzers.
Let us recall that the previous deliveries took place as follows: December 17 last year – 18 guns, March 22 last year – 12 guns, February 23 last year – 12 guns, and December 12, 2022 – 24 guns. This means that a total of 108 howitzers have been received so far.
The above deliveries are being carried out under the executive agreement dated August 26, 2022, with a net value of 2.4 billion USD (11.38 billion PLN net / 13.99 billion PLN gross), signed between the Armament Agency and Hanwha Defense (now Hanwha Aerospace). According to this agreement, 212 K9A1 Thunder howitzers will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces between 2022 and 2026.
The logistics package includes a stock of spare parts, consumables, and equipment needed for the maintenance of the howitzers. The contractor also provides service support in Poland from the moment the first howitzers are delivered. The training package includes simulation equipment and personnel training in Poland.
On December 1 of last year, the Armament Agency signed a second contract worth 2.6 billion USD net (10.33 billion PLN net / 12.81 billion PLN gross) for the delivery of an additional 6 K9A1 howitzers in 2025, and 146 K9PL howitzers in 2026-2027. These executive agreements are the result of the framework agreement from July 27, 2022, for a total of 672 K9A1 and K9PL howitzers (Hanwha Aerospace provides details of the cooperation offer for the production of K9PL howitzers).
The implementation of the second executive contract was made possible by the passage of a law on February 29 of this year by the Korean National Assembly, which amended the capital limit of the Korea Eximbank (Export–Import Bank of Korea) to provide loans for Poland, as well as by the Polish government’s negotiations during an official visit to Korea in April.
The K9 Thunder is a South Korean self-propelled howitzer mounted on a tracked chassis. Its main armament is a 155 mm gun with a 52-caliber barrel, capable of delivering precise fire at ranges over 40 km, depending on the type of ammunition used. The K9’s armor provides protection against small arms fire and artillery fragments. It is powered by a 1,000-horsepower diesel engine with an automatic transmission, ensuring high speed and mobility in all terrains. The howitzer weighs 47 tons. The K9A1 version introduces a series of upgrades, focusing on increasing fire effectiveness and range to 54 km, enhancing situational awareness, and improving crew comfort.
Polish howitzers are equipped with domestic communication and fire control systems. WB Group provides the Fonet communication system and the Topaz fire control system.
Homar-K / Photo: Grzegorz Sobczak, MILMAG
WWR Homar-K (K239 Chunmoo)
This year’s third batch of Homar-K multiple rocket launcher modules was delivered today. The first batch, consisting of 12 modules, was delivered on June 11, and the second, with 5 modules, on September 11.
As before, they will be sent to Huta Stalowa Wola (part of the Polish Armaments Group) for integration with the Jelcz P882.57 TS T45 K-MLRS 8×8 chassis, the Topaz battle management system, the Fonet digital vehicle communication platform, and the Radmor radio communication system from WB Group. The number of launchers delivered by the Korean side now stands at 45 units.
Previously, all Homar-K launchers were sent to the 18th Artillery Regiment from Nowa Dęba, which is part of the 18th Mechanized Division. By December 30, 2023, 15 of the 17 units delivered to the country at that time had been sent there.
On August 12 of this year, the first four Homar-K rocket launcher systems were delivered to the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade, which is part of the 16th Mechanized Division.
On October 19, 2022, the Polish Armament Agency signed a framework agreement with Hanwha Aerospace for the acquisition of 288 K239 Chunmoo launchers, and on November 4, 2022, an executive contract was signed for 218 launcher modules along with logistics and training packages, an ammunition stockpile including several thousand precision-guided missiles with a range of 80 km (Chunmoo 239 mm Missile) and 290 km (Long Range Missile, 600 mm caliber), 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 contract 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 logistics and training package, and the integration of the Homar-K launchers. The contract 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 set for 2026-2029. This will bring the total number of launchers to 290 (with two additional units likely going to the Artillery and Armament Training Center in Toruń) (Export ballistic missile for Chunmoo with a range of 500 km).
Meanwhile, on October 2, the first day of the KADEX exhibition in Korea, a contract was signed between the Polish company WB Electronics (part of WB Group) and Hanwha Aerospace, in the presence of Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda, who was visiting at the time. The contract concerns the production of 239 mm caliber CGR-080 precision-guided rockets, with a range of up to 80 km, intended for the Homar-K launchers, in Poland.
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