Industry
A Polish-Korean Rocket Factory to be Established in Poland
WB Group has signed an MOU with the Korean company Hanwha Aerospace to build a new rocket ammunition factory in Poland. For the time being, this is to be the place where »surface-to-surface« missiles will be made - probably for the K239 Chunmoo launchers, called Homar-K in the Polish version. There is a chance that artillery shells will also be built at the new factory.
On 4 September 2024, the signing ceremony of the MoU (Memorandum of Understanging) for the construction of missile munitions in Poland took place during the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce. At this point, it has not been officially stated what type of missiles are involved. It is also not indicated whether it will be production aimed exclusively at the Polish army or will it also be provided for the ROK (Republic of Korea) Army.
Autonomy and ammunition
From a security point of view, however, this could be a real breakthrough, as the implementation of the signed agreement will give Poland autonomy, even when it comes to the supply of a large proportion of rocket and artillery munitions. It is also further evidence of the increasingly growing cooperation between WB Group and Hanwha Aerospace. To date, it has resulted in several important contracts and agreements, examples of which include:
- an agreement worth approximately $140 million for the supply of the Fonet communications and fire control system Topaz for the K9A1 Thunder cannon howitzer (signed during the MSPO in Kielce on 7 September 2022);
- an agreement on the integration of the Fonet communications system, the Topaz fire control system and two Radmor radio communications systems with the K239 Chunmoo multi-launcher rocket launcher sets (signed on 23 February 2023 in Warsaw);
- an agreement on multifaceted cooperation signed in October 2023 in Seoul (during the Seoul ADEX aerospace and defence fair in South Korea);
- a letter of intent to implement strategic cooperation signed on 21 June this year in Warsaw.
Which location?
As it turns out, the biggest problem in the venture announced at MSPO 2024 may be the selection of a location where the local community will agree to manufacture rockets, accepting not only the associated benefits (e.g. new jobs), but also certain challenges. According to WB President Piotr Wojciechowski, three locations are being considered so far, but the issue of choosing the right site is still open.