SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace has begun construction of a manufacturing plant for guided rockets in Poland, the defense company said on Thursday.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the plant was held the previous day in Gorzów Wielkopolski, western Poland, attended by Polish defense officials, Hanwha executives and representatives of Hanwha WB Advanced System (HWBAS), a joint venture between Hanwha Aerospace and Poland's largest private defense company WB Group.
Scheduled for completion in 2028, the plant will manufacture precision-guided artillery rockets dubbed CGR-080, which have a range of 80 kilometers and are used with the HOMAR-K, Poland's version of Hanwha's Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system.
Once completed, it would mark a major step in Hanwha's efforts to expand its presence in the European defense market. The company plans to begin initial production in late 2029, following the installation of equipment and technology transfer, with full-scale production expected to start in 2030.
The project follows HWBAS' signing of a contract with Poland's Armament Agency to locally manufacture and supply guided rockets. Established in September 2025, HWBAS is a joint venture in which Hanwha Aerospace holds a 51 percent stake, while WB Electronics, a subsidiary of WB Group, owns the remaining 49 percent.
Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will transfer the relevant technology and technical expertise needed for HWBAS to manufacture the weapons, allowing Poland to develop its own production capabilities. The project is also expected to create more than 200 jobs and expand opportunities for local suppliers.
The project reflects Hanwha Aerospace's broader strategy of moving beyond exports of weapons manufactured in South Korea toward establishing overseas production facilities, with the aim of making Poland a regional manufacturing and supply hub for guided rockets.
"Poland is a key strategic partner where we have built trust through exports of K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers," said Hanwha Aerospace CEO Lee Bu-hwan. "We will further expand cooperation with Poland and create sustained growth momentum in the European defense market."
Poland has become one of South Korea's largest defense customers in Europe, signing major procurement deals for K9 self-propelled howitzers, K2 main battle tanks and Chunmoo rocket launchers.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the plant was held the previous day in Gorzów Wielkopolski, western Poland, attended by Polish defense officials, Hanwha executives and representatives of Hanwha WB Advanced System (HWBAS), a joint venture between Hanwha Aerospace and Poland's largest private defense company WB Group.
Scheduled for completion in 2028, the plant will manufacture precision-guided artillery rockets dubbed CGR-080, which have a range of 80 kilometers and are used with the HOMAR-K, Poland's version of Hanwha's Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system.
Once completed, it would mark a major step in Hanwha's efforts to expand its presence in the European defense market. The company plans to begin initial production in late 2029, following the installation of equipment and technology transfer, with full-scale production expected to start in 2030.
The project follows HWBAS' signing of a contract with Poland's Armament Agency to locally manufacture and supply guided rockets. Established in September 2025, HWBAS is a joint venture in which Hanwha Aerospace holds a 51 percent stake, while WB Electronics, a subsidiary of WB Group, owns the remaining 49 percent.
Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will transfer the relevant technology and technical expertise needed for HWBAS to manufacture the weapons, allowing Poland to develop its own production capabilities. The project is also expected to create more than 200 jobs and expand opportunities for local suppliers.
The project reflects Hanwha Aerospace's broader strategy of moving beyond exports of weapons manufactured in South Korea toward establishing overseas production facilities, with the aim of making Poland a regional manufacturing and supply hub for guided rockets.
"Poland is a key strategic partner where we have built trust through exports of K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers," said Hanwha Aerospace CEO Lee Bu-hwan. "We will further expand cooperation with Poland and create sustained growth momentum in the European defense market."
Poland has become one of South Korea's largest defense customers in Europe, signing major procurement deals for K9 self-propelled howitzers, K2 main battle tanks and Chunmoo rocket launchers.
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