TSAMTO, November 8. On November 4, a ceremony was held in Warsaw to conclude an executive contract related to the acquisition of the modules of the K239 Chunmu MLRS launchers in the Republic of Korea.
The event was attended by Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak.
The subject of an executive contract worth $ 3.55 billion, concluded by the Arms Agency of the Polish Ministry of Defense and the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace, is the supply of 218 K239 MLRS modules together with logistics and training packages and ammunition stock, including several thousand high-precision rocket ammunition with a firing range of 80 km (239 mm RS) and OTR with a firing range of 290 km, as well as technical support of the manufacturer.
Deliveries are planned to be carried out during 2023-2027, and the transfer of the first 18 K239 launchers integrated on the Polish Jelcz chassis, with Polish communication systems and the integrated Topaz combat control system, along with ammunition, will be carried out in 2023. The delivery of equipment within the specified time frame will allow achieving basic readiness for combat use of the K239 first division by the end of 2023.
The training package provides for the training of technical specialists in South Korea and Poland, and the logistics package, among other things, the supply of diagnostic equipment and spare parts. The contractor will also provide technical support in Poland from the moment of arrival of the first K239. As a result of technology transfer, Polish industrial enterprises will be able to produce launchers and precision-guided munitions in the future.
As stated, the adopted method of concluding executive contracts is associated with the division of the purchase of 288 MLRS launch modules into stages, including a wide volume of technology transfer and the creation of industrial infrastructure in Poland. This will also make it possible to optimally manage the entire program and quickly achieve the combat capabilities required by the Polish Armed Forces at the first stage by supplying modern military equipment.
As reported by TSAMTO, developed by the South Korean company Hanwha Defense MLRS K239 "Chunmu" (Chunmoo / K-MRLS) was adopted by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea in August 2015.
The combat vehicle with the 8x8 wheel formula is equipped with a protected cabin that allows you to place a crew of three people. The MLRS is equipped with an artillery unit with two transport and launch containers, each of which can accommodate guided or unguided ammunition. In particular, each container can be equipped with 20 unguided 131-mm K33 rocket projectiles with a firing range of 36 km, 6 unguided 230-mm RS KM6A2 (analogous to the M270 MLRS used) with a firing range of 45 km, six 239-mm guided RS with a firing range of 80 km, 2 400 mm OTR caliber with a firing range of more than 200 km or one 600-mm tactical missile with a maximum firing range of 290 km. The length of the PC caliber 239 mm is 3.96 m . It is equipped with a combined inertial / GPS navigation system and is used in two modes: undermining the warhead over the target when the enemy's manpower is hit and delayed action for the destruction of fortified structures. The launch of 6 RS from one container can be made in 30 seconds, so a full volley from two containers takes 1 min. Recharging two TPCs takes 7 minutes.
