Hanwha Secures 4bn Polish Missile Deal for Homar-K Systems

Hanwha Secures $4bn Polish Missile Deal

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Jan 8, 2026 - : 3:37 pm

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Hanwha Aerospace has formalised a significant executive contract with the Polish Armament Agency for the supply of CGR-080 guided missiles, valued at approximately US$4 billion (approx. 5.6 trillion KRW). The agreement, signed on 29 December 2025, represents the third major executive contract under the ongoing Homar-K framework, reinforcing South Korea's position as a primary strategic partner for Poland's rapid military modernisation.

The contract was signed at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw by Major General Artur Kuptel, head of the Polish Armament Agency, and Son Jae-il, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace. This latest deal focuses on the delivery of 239mm caliber precision-guided missiles with a range of 80 kilometres, destined for the Homar-K multiple launch rocket system—the Polish-adapted variant of South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo.

Localized Production and Strategic Joint Ventures

According to reports from Business Korea and KED Global, the missiles will be manufactured within Poland through a newly established joint venture, Hanwha-WB Advanced System (HWB). This entity, a partnership between Hanwha Aerospace and Poland’s leading private defence firm WB Electronics, marks a transition from a buyer-seller relationship to deep industrial collaboration. The production facility is expected to begin operations by late 2029, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2030.

This "Polonisation" strategy is a cornerstone of the bilateral agreement. By transferring high-end technology and integrating local supply chains, Hanwha is not only fulfilling Poland's immediate operational needs but also fostering a sustainable European defence ecosystem. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz noted during the ceremony that the partnership fulfills Warsaw’s ambition for production independence within its missile programmes.

The Rise of the Asia-Pacific Defence Powerhouse

The deal underscores the burgeoning "K-Defence" phenomenon, where South Korean contractors are outpacing traditional European and American rivals through competitive pricing and unprecedented delivery speeds. For Hanwha, the Polish market serves as a vital bridgehead into NATO and the European Union. In 2024 alone, Poland accounted for 46 per cent of South Korea’s total defence exports, which included K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and FA-50 light combat aircraft.

From an Asia-Pacific perspective, the success of South Korean firms in Europe is a bellwether for the region's industrial maturity. Hanwha Systems, a sibling company to Hanwha Aerospace, is simultaneously scaling its indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar production for the KF-21 fighter jet, with the first mass-produced units rolled out in late 2025. This technical prowess in both kinetic and sensor systems is positioning the Seoul-based conglomerate as a comprehensive global aerospace and defence titan.

Sustaining Regional Momentum

While the focus remains on Eastern Europe, the strategic implications for the Asia-Pacific are clear. The expansion into Poland provides Hanwha with the capital and manufacturing scale to further dominate its home region. With existing contracts in Australia for the Redback IFV and interest from Southeast Asian nations such as Malaysia and the Philippines in KAI’s FA-50 (equipped with Hanwha sensors), the company is successfully exporting a "Korean Standard" of interoperability that rivals the long-standing dominance of US and Russian hardware.