A multibillion-dollar contract signed by Seoul this week to supply arms to Poland has underscored the strength of South Korea’s defence industry.
Observers, however, warn that a growing global trend involving bloc-based arms trade could cast a shadow over the country’s future as a major weapons exporter.
The consortium of Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha-WB Advanced System (HWB) on Monday signed a 5.6 trillion-won (US$4 billion) contract with Poland’s arms procurement agency, the Polish Armament Agency, in Warsaw to supply Chunmoo guided missiles.
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The 80km-range missiles, also known as the CGR-080, will be produced in Poland, with deliveries set to begin in 2030.
HWB is a joint venture between Hanwha and WB Electronics, an affiliate of the WB Group, Poland’s largest defence company.
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This is the third contract Poland has signed for the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system. Hanwha concluded a framework agreement with Poland in 2022 and later that year signed its first contract, valued at about 5 trillion won, for the rocket launcher system.