South Korea’s MRLS, the “K239 Chunmoo,” is Eyeing Malaysia
The MRLS system "K239 Chunmoo," developed by Hanwha Aerospace, is said to be a major competitor to the HIMARS MLRS system. Analysts suggest that the capabilities of the South Korean-made MRLS system are on par with the HIMARS system made in the United States.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Multiple Rocket Launcher System (MRLS) “K239 Chunmoo” produced by Hanwha Aerospace from South Korea seems to be eyeing the Malaysian market, either to replace or complement the Brazilian-made ASTROS MLRS that has been used by the Malaysian army for quite some time.
The “K239 Chunmoo” MRLS system is said to be a major competitor to the HIMARS MLRS system, and according to analysts, the capabilities of the South Korean-made MRLS system are comparable to that of the American-made system.
At the recently concluded DSA & NATSEC 2024 exhibition, Hanwha Aerospace forged a partnership with the rising local defense industry player, Widad Business Group.
During the biennial defense exhibition, Widad Business Group, represented by its Executive Chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ikmal Opat Abdullah, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hanwha Aerospace, represented by its Executive Vice President cum CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon Plant, Go Sang-Hwe.
According to a statement issued by Widad, Muhammad Ikmal expressed confidence that the cooperation between the two companies has the potential to enhance defense capabilities and further encourage innovation.
Used by armed forces of countries such as South Korea, Poland, and several other countries in the Middle East, the “K239 Chunmoo” MRLS system can launch two different calibre rockets simultaneously.
It is capable of launching rockets of calibre 130mm, 227mm, and 239mm that can hit targets at distances of 36km, 80km, and 290km, respectively, allowing it to meet a variety of operational needs effectively.
The “K239 Chunmoo” MRLS system is also reported to be capable of launching tactical guided projectiles of calibre 600mm.
Among the key features of the K239 Chunmoo MRLS system are its precision targeting capability, rapid deployment in under five minutes, quick reloading, and tactical mobility that enables the army to maximize tactical capabilities.
South Korea developed the “K239 Chunmoo” MRLS system to replace the aging “Kooryong” MRLS.
The East Asian country began developing the “K239 Chunmoo” MRLS system in 2009 and completed it in 2013 with an allocation of US$112 million (RM530 million), with the main purpose of the MRLS system being to target North Korean artillery positions.
South Korea has a number of major users of the Hanwha Aerospace-made MRLS system, with Poland signing a contract in 2022 to acquire 288 units of the “K239 Chunmoo”, with the first delivery having already been made in 2023.
In April this year, the Polish government signed an agreement to acquire a total of 72 units of the MRLS system.
The variant of the “K239 Chunmoo” MRLS system is called the “Homar-K” and it will complement the HIMARS MLRS system made by the United States.
In addition, Widad Business Group also signed an MoU with Turkish company, Havelsan Hava Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, involving the Weapon Training Shooting Simulator (WeTSS) that will enhance the training capabilities of the Malaysian Armed Forces. — DSA
