Outgoing 'civilian' defense chief's in effect final overseas trip before replacement
Departs to sign export deal for Hanwha Aerospace's 18 K239 Chunmoo launchers
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will travel to Croatia to attend the signing of a 680 billion won ($506 million) export contract for Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers. The deal, coming after earlier exports to Poland and Estonia, marks a new milestone in South Korea's defense industry push into Europe as Croatia becomes the latest customer.
According to the Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday, Ahn will travel to Croatia from Wednesday through Friday, in a three-night, four-day trip. He is scheduled to meet with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Thursday (local time) before attending the Chunmoo contract signing ceremony, and he is also expected to meet with Croatia's defense leadership.
"This marks South Korea's first-ever defense export to Croatia," the Defense Ministry said, adding that the deal "will serve as an important milestone in developing a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship based on a defense partnership between the two countries."
Separate from the Chunmoo contract, the two countries will also sign a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation. They are expected to discuss strategic cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
Croatia's government moved a plan to acquire an integrated system of 18 Chunmoo launchers, along with guided munitions, toward final approval during a Cabinet meeting on Friday (local time). The contract, excluding value-added tax, is worth about 435.2 million euros ($506 million), or about 680 billion won.
The package includes 18 launchers, guided rockets with a range of about 80 kilometers, and short-range tactical ballistic missiles in the CTM-290 class with a range exceeding 300 kilometers. Poland's WB Electronics will separately handle integration of the command, control and communications systems. The full order is to be delivered in stages within 24 to 36 months of the contract's signing.
Croatia is also moving to acquire eight US-made HIMARS systems. With the addition of Chunmoo, its long-range rocket force will grow to a total of 26 launchers.
Chunmoo is a domestically developed multiple rocket launcher built from 2009 to 2013 to replace the aging K136 Guryong system. It serves as a core asset in South Korea's "kill chain" system for countering North Korean long-range artillery and rocket threats.
Following its first overseas sale to the UAE in 2017, Chunmoo has since been exported to Saudi Arabia in 2022. It was also exported to Poland in 2022, 2024 and 2025, with cumulative contracts exceeding 12 trillion won, and to Estonia in 2025 for about 440 billion won. The latest deal with Croatia further cements Chunmoo's status as a flagship export item of South Korea's defense industry. Hanwha Aerospace is also in talks for additional exports with Norway and the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Ahn's trip to Croatia is expected to be, in effect, his last overseas mission as defense minister. President Lee Jae Myung nominated Kang Shin-chul as the new defense minister on Aug. 30. Kang is a former deputy commander of the Republic of Korea-US Combined Forces Command who currently serves as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Ahn is on track to be replaced about one year and two months after taking office.
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