Estonia signs $340M deal for South Korean Chunmoo launchers

Hanwha Aerospace has expanded its defense cooperation with Estonia through a new memorandum of understanding with local firm GoCraft OÜ, as additional details emerged about Estonia’s acquisition of South Korean Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher systems and related industrial investments.

According to a press release dated Dec. 22, 2025, Hanwha Aerospace signed an MOU with GoCraft OÜ to establish a local framework for technical cooperation and maintenance. The signing ceremony took place in Tallinn on Dec. 21, attended by Robert Park, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s Air Defense and Missile Launcher Systems Business Unit, and GoCraft Chief Executive Officer Tormis Saar.

Under the agreement, the two companies will cooperate on transferring maintenance know-how, conducting technical training, and localizing spare parts supply. As noted by the company, the primary objective is to ensure reliable operation and security of supply for the Chunmoo systems delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces.

The MOU builds on a separate procurement decision by Estonia to acquire six Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers from South Korea. Estonia has signed a €290 million ($340 million) contract covering the systems, operational and training support, and investments in Estonia’s defense industry. The first Chunmoo systems are expected to arrive in Estonia in about two years.

Estonian officials have said the current purchase includes six launchers, with the option to procure additional systems in the future. The main goal of the program is to expand the Defence Forces’ deep-strike capability.

“Deep-strike capability in the form of HIMARS already exists for us, but creating a second complementary system is extremely necessary,” said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur. “Chunmoo has a firing range of up to 300 kilometers, and they are working to go further, up to 500 kilometers.”

In terms of missile range, Chunmoo is broadly comparable to the U.S.-made HIMARS system already in Estonian service, but officials and industry representatives point to differences in launcher configuration.

“HIMARS has only one rocket pod, but we use two,” said Billy Boo Hwan Lee, Hanwha’s head of precision-guided munitions business. “This means we have double capability. For example, on the left side we can use an 80-kilometer-range rocket, and on the right a 290-kilometer-range rocket. Our system is dual-purpose. This means we offer greater operational capability.”

According to Estonian military officials, the higher firepower of the Chunmoo system also affects vehicle characteristics. Meelis Laanemets, commander of a division fire support unit, said the main difference between HIMARS and Chunmoo is that Chunmoo has greater firepower and is therefore heavier.

“At the same time, HIMARS is much lighter and has high strategic mobility,” Laanemets said.

Laanemets added that training for the two systems is broadly similar and that rocket artillery units are expected to become proficient in operating both. South Korean specialists are also supporting Chunmoo-related training. He noted that market demand for such systems remains high, even as Estonia expects its first deliveries within two years.

Lee said Hanwha has adjusted production capacity to meet growing demand. “We had to change and reorganize our production line in order to add and double capacity, so we are able to deliver on time,” he said. “In Poland’s case, we were able to deliver more than a thousand rockets in one year.”

Long delivery timelines across the defense sector remain a concern, according to Pevkur. He said Estonia’s procurements have largely stayed on schedule, though some delays have occurred. One example is the IRIS-T medium-range air defense system.

“According to the original plan, it could have arrived by the end of this year, but because the war is ongoing in Ukraine, the German government asked whether we could quickly give our system to the Ukrainians and then accept an additional half-year delay, and we agreed, because the Ukrainians need it more right now,” Pevkur said.

Under the Chunmoo contract, Hanwha is also committing to invest in Estonia’s defense industry. Officials said these investments could return between €40 million and €60 million to Estonia’s economy over a ten-year period, supporting local industrial capacity and sustainment.