Hanwha Defense produced the first 24 self-propelled guns K9A1 Thunder and 10 K2 Black Panther tanks for Poland

The first 24 K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers and the first 10 K2 Black Panther tanks ordered by Poland were already manufactured by the South Korean Hanwha Defense company.

On October 19, the equipment was presented at the company’s plant in Changwon, writes Korea Defense Blog.

Mariusz Blaszczak, Polish Defense Minister, stated that the equipment is already heading to Poland.

He announced this on his Twitter.

Rozpoczęły się dostawy sprzętu z Korei Południowej. Pierwsze 24 armatohaubice K9 zmierzają już do Polski i wkrótce będą służyć w jednostkach na wschodzie kraju. pic.twitter.com/tCEkuHDzNU

— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) October 19, 2022

The first batch of equipment was manufactured 2 months after the signing of the agreement of Poland purchasing 648 K9 Thunder self-propelled guns and 980 K2 Black Panther tanks.

Poland also signed an agreement to purchase 48 FA-50 Fighting Eagle aircraft at that time.

The tank agreement covers the supply of 180 K2 Black Panther tanks between 2022 and 2025. The contract value is $3.4 billion.

The previous reports claimed that the first 10 tanks should be allocated for the 16th Pomeranian mechanized division in the city of Morong, which is currently armed with T-72s.

As for the purchase of К9, this contract with Hanwha Defense covers the timespan between 2022 and 2026, for which 212 K9 Thunder ACS (in the K9A1 version) should be allocated. The transaction amount is $2.4 billion.

According to the plan, the first self-propelled guns would be delivered to the 11th Masurian artillery regiment. Prior to this, the military unit operated with ACS Krab and DANA ACS, as well as Grad and Langustac MLRS.

The contract also includes personnel training and equipment maintenance.

K239 Chunmoo

Poland is expected to sign a contract to purchase 288 South Korean-made K239 Chunmoo MLRS. The value of the deal is EUR 6 billion.

In addition, it was reported that Poland expects to use the domestic-made Jelcz chassis as a chassis for K239. The K239 will also be integrated into Poland’s Topaz fire control system.

The first deliveries are expected in 2023.

K239 Chunmoo is a missile system in service of the Republic of Korea Army since 2015. It was developed by Hanwha Defense.

This is a modular system that allows using the following types of ammunition:

– 130mm (rocket shells from the Korean K136 Kooryong MLRS of the previous generation);

– 227mm (in particular, compatible with M270/HIMARS);

– 239mm missiles (capable of hitting targets at a distance of 80-85 km, adjusted by GPS or inertial);

There is also a program designed to develop a tactical ballistic missile for the complex, capable of striking targets at a distance of up to 300km (400 or 600mm).

Ammunition is equipped in two lunchers, each of which, depending on the caliber, can contain between 20 and 6 missiles.

In addition to the Republic of Korea, the Chunmoo K239 is in service with the United Arab Emirates.