Estonia is considering South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo, a multiple launch rocket system developed by Hanwha Aerospace, as delays in the delivery of Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, raise concerns about the country’s long-term procurement strategy. While Estonia continues negotiations with Lockheed Martin over delivery timelines, the possibility of turning to Hanwha Aerospace could materialize, given that Poland and other nations have opted for Chunmoo due to its delivery speed and after-sales support.
“I would like to speak [with the U.S. government] to ask, are they ready to speed up the production, or are they ready to give us earlier [production] slots?” Estonia’s defense minister Hanno Pevkur said in an interview with Breaking Defense at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 15. “Because the information we’ve gathered today clearly shows that delivery time is very long and we don’t have so much time,” he added. He noted that Estonia is considering alternatives and mentioned Hanwha Aerospace’s K239 Chunmoo.
During a visit to South Korea in January, Pevkur emphasized Estonia’s focus on deep-strike capabilities, referring to gun weapon systems. Deep strike operations involve hitting targets deep in enemy territory. Hanwha Aerospace’s K9 self-propelled howitzer and Chunmoo both fit this requirement. Estonia’s prior purchase of K9 howitzers further raises expectations for a possible Chunmoo deal. Polish defense media outlet Defence24 recently said that if Estonia opts for Chunmoo, it could benefit from operational synergies with Poland, which has already deployed the system.
Estonia announced in September last year that it would allocate €1.6 billion to procure long-range ammunition, with a significant portion initially intended for additional HIMARS units. The country signed a contract with the U.S. in December 2022 to procure six HIMARS launchers, but deliveries have yet to begin.
HIMARS has long been a mainstay in the rocket artillery field since it was first deployed in 2005. Multiple countries, including Jordan and Romania, have adopted HIMARS. The system’s battlefield capabilities have been demonstrated in Ukraine, where it has been used to target Russian forces. One of its key advantages is its relatively small size, which allows it to be transported on a medium-sized aircraft.
However, production has been slow, largely due to its complex supply chain. Lockheed Martin oversees development and integration, while U.S. manufacturers Oshkosh and Caterpillar supply the carrier vehicle and engine, respectively.
Delivery delays have led some countries to scrap plans for additional HIMARS buys and switch to alternatives, such as the Chunmoo. Poland, for instance, ordered 20 HIMARS units (18 for combat, two for training) in 2019 and initially planned to receive them by 2023. When faced with delivery delays, the country opted for Chunmoo instead. A Middle Eastern country also weighed its options between HIMARS and Chunmoo and ultimately chose the latter for its fast delivery and lower cost.
Developed between 2009 and 2013 with a budget of roughly 130 billion won ($98 million), Chunmoo has been deployed since 2015. It can launch rockets of multiple calibers, including precision-guided munitions comparable to missiles. Chunmoo is also more affordable than HIMARS. Other European countries, including Norway and Romania, are also considering Chunmoo as a potential addition to their arsenals, according to sources familiar with the matter.
