The Homar-K, a Polish adaptation of South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), marks a pivotal advancement in Poland’s artillery modernization, driven by a strategic partnership with Hanwha Aerospace. By June 2025, the Polish Armed Forces had integrated 117 Homar-K launcher modules, with 81 fully operational systems deployed, primarily within the 18th Mechanized Division, as reported by the Public Communications Department of the Polish Armament Agency on June 20, 2025. This represents a significant increase from the 35 systems in service by October 2024, reflecting accelerated integration of Korean-supplied modules with Polish-manufactured Jelcz P882.57 8×8 chassis and subsystems like the WB Group’s Topaz Automated Fire Control System. The system’s modularity, enabling the launch of 239 mm CGR-080 guided rockets with an 80-kilometer range or 600 mm CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles reaching 290 kilometers, enhances Poland’s precision strike capabilities, addressing regional security dynamics influenced by threats such as North Korea’s 300 mm KN-09 system.
Poland’s acquisition of 290 Homar-K systems, formalized through a framework agreement signed with Hanwha Aerospace on October 19, 2022, and expanded by a second executive contract in April 2024, underscores a deliberate shift from Soviet-era systems like the BM-21 Grad. The initial contract, valued at 3.55 billion USD, included 218 launcher modules, logistics, training, and thousands of precision-guided munitions, with deliveries scheduled for completion by 2027. The April 2024 agreement added 72 modules, with 60 to be manufactured domestically by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), signaling a robust localization strategy. By April 2025, 90 systems had been delivered, and on December 7, 2024, the 18th Missile Brigade conducted the first live firing of a CGR-080 rocket at the Ustka training ground, validating the system’s operational reliability, as documented by Army Recognition on April 14, 2025.
The integration of the Homar-K onto the Jelcz P882.57 chassis, with plans to transition to the third-generation Jelcz P883.57, exemplifies Poland’s commitment to industrial self-reliance. The Jelcz chassis, produced by Jelcz Sp. z o.o., offers enhanced mobility with a capacity to climb 60% slopes, ford 1.2-meter depths, and achieve a cruising range of 800 kilometers, as detailed in Hanwha Aerospace’s technical specifications published on February 9, 2023. The chassis incorporates an armored cab for crew protection against small arms fire and artillery fragments, alongside nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) safeguards. The Topaz fire control system, developed by WB领跑者WB Electronics, ensures seamless integration with Poland’s artillery command networks, while the Fonet digital communications suite enhances operational coordination. These adaptations, finalized by HSW, have streamlined the integration process, with 18 of the 54 modules scheduled for 2025 delivery already completed by June 2025.
A critical aspect of the Homar-K program is the planned localization of munition production. On September 4, 2024, at the MSPO exhibition in Kielce, WB Group and Hanwha Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture for producing CGR-080 rockets in Poland, with cooperation terms finalized in April 2025, as reported by Defence24.com. The facility, expected to commence production by 2029, aims to produce over 10,000 239 mm guided rockets, reducing Poland’s reliance on foreign supply chains. This venture, with Hanwha holding a 51% stake and WB Electronics 49%, also explores the potential for artillery shell production, enhancing Poland’s strategic autonomy. The agreement aligns with broader Polish-South Korean defense collaborations, including the integration of Fonet and Topaz systems into K9A1 howitzers, as noted in a September 7, 2022, contract valued at 140 million USD.
🇵🇱🇰🇷 Poland has released a live-fire video of the Homar-K rocket artillery's CGR-080 missile for the first time. Cooperation between Poland and Korea knows no bounds. Poland also has the CTM-290 tactical ballistic missile. We expect Poland to operate the devastating CTM-MR… pic.twitter.com/3G1Yn1Ph1I
— Mason ヨンハク (@mason_8718) March 9, 2025
The Homar-K’s versatility extends to its compatibility with Polish 122 mm unguided rockets, used in the WR-40 Langusta system, with Military Aviation Works No. 2 (WZL-2) developing transport-launch containers for these munitions implacements. This adaptation, detailed in MILMAG on April 12, 2024, enhances the system’s flexibility by allowing the use of existing Polish munitions alongside new guided rockets. The launcher’s capacity to fire 12 rockets in a minute or reload two pods in seven minutes, as specified by Hanwha Defense on February 9, 2023, underscores its rapid deployment capabilities. Efforts to develop rockets with ranges of 150-200 kilometers, as mentioned in Army Recognition on April 14, 2025, further amplify its strategic value.
Poland’s artillery modernization, encompassing 500 M142 HIMARS and 290 Homar-K systems, responds to regional security imperatives highlighted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Poland to increase defense spending to 4% of GDP, the highest in NATO, according to Notes From Poland on April 26, 2024. The Homar-K’s deployment, with 15 systems operational in the 18th Artillery Regiment by September 2024, as reported by Defence Industry Europe, strengthens NATO’s eastern flank. The system’s ability to launch both guided and unguided rockets, including potential integration of KTSSM-II ballistic missiles, as speculated in posts on X on November 1, 2024, positions it as a counter to advanced threats, offering precision and mobility comparable to HIMARS.
The localization of launcher production, with HSW assembling modules from the 13th unit onward, reflects a strategic transfer of technology from Hanwha Aerospace, as outlined in the April 2024 contract. This process, involving the integration of Polish subsystems, has created economic opportunities, with the planned rocket factory expected to generate jobs and potential export markets for NATO and EU countries, as emphasized by Hanwha representatives at MSPO 2023. The Polish defense industry’s role in producing spares and maintenance facilities, as stipulated in the second executive contract, ensures long-term operational sustainability. The first 12 modules, delivered from Hanwha’s Changwon facility by August 2023, were integrated with Polish chassis in South Korea, marking an early milestone in this collaboration.
The Homar-K’s operational debut with the 16th Mechanized Division on August 12, 2024, as reported by Army Recognition, included four launchers delivered to the 1st Masurian Artillery Brigade. This deployment, alongside K9A1 howitzers and Homar-A (HIMARS) systems, forms a trifecta of advanced artillery, replacing outdated Soviet-era equipment. The system’s ability to fire multiple rocket calibers, including 130 mm, 227 mm, and 239 mm, as detailed in Army Technology on February 9, 2023, offers tactical flexibility. The Polish Army’s training in South Korea, completed by August 18, 2023, prepared troops for live-fire exercises, ensuring operational readiness.
The strategic partnership with Hanwha Aerospace extends beyond the Homar-K, encompassing K2 tanks, K9 howitzers, and FA-50 aircraft, as noted in Notes From Poland on April 26, 2024. This multifaceted cooperation, valued at billions, enhances Poland’s deterrence capabilities within NATO. The Homar-K’s integration with Polish 122 mm rockets, developed by Mesko, aligns with efforts to leverage existing stockpiles, reducing costs while maintaining compatibility with legacy systems like the BM-21 Grad. The system’s computerized fire control system, as described by Hanwha Defense, ensures high accuracy, critical for countering long-range threats.
The planned transition to the Jelcz P883.57 chassis, showcased at MSPO 2023, promises improved performance, with prototypes demonstrating enhanced terrain adaptability. The Polish defense industry’s increasing role in launcher assembly, as reported by MILMAG on April 12, 2024, reflects a strategic shift toward self-sufficiency. The joint venture’s focus on 239 mm rockets, with production timelines set for 2029, as per Army Recognition on October 18, 2024, underscores Poland’s ambition to control critical supply chains. This initiative, coupled with the potential for 122 mm rocket integration, positions the Homar-K as a cornerstone of Poland’s long-range strike capability.
The Homar-K’s deployment pace, with 54 modules scheduled for 2025 and 18 already integrated by June indicates a streamlined production process. The system’s ability to launch two ballistic missiles or 12 guided rockets per salvo, as specified by Army Recognition on September 8, 2024, enhances Poland’s operational reach. The collaboration with Hanwha Aerospace, formalized through multiple agreements since 2022, ensures technology transfer and industrial growth, aligning with Poland’s broader defense modernization goals.
The Homar-K’s integration into Poland’s artillery framework, supported by robust South Korean collaboration, exemplifies a strategic response to evolving geopolitical threats. The system’s modularity, precision, and mobility, combined with localized production, position Poland as a key NATO player, capable of addressing regional security challenges with advanced, domestically supported artillery systems.
Comparative Analysis of the Homar-K K239 Chunmoo Rocket Artillery System: Capabilities, Applications, and Global MLRS Benchmarks in 2025
The Homar-K, Poland’s localized variant of South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system, demonstrates a sophisticated integration of multi-caliber munitions and advanced fire control systems, positioning it as a formidable asset in modern artillery warfare. By June 2025, the system’s operational deployment within the Polish Armed Forces includes 117 launcher modules, with a firing accuracy enhanced by a GPS/INS hybrid navigation system achieving a circular error probable (CEP) of 15 meters for 239 mm CGR-080 rockets and 2 meters for 600 mm CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles, as verified by Hanwha Aerospace’s technical data sheet published on March 12, 2025. The system’s dual-pod configuration permits simultaneous launches of six 239 mm rockets in 30 seconds or one CTM-290 missile per pod, delivering a payload capacity of 400 kg high-explosive fragmentation warheads, according to Army Recognition’s report on May 6, 2025. This capability enables the Homar-K to neutralize fortified positions, armored formations, and high-value targets at ranges up to 290 kilometers, surpassing the 70-kilometer range of the U.S.-supplied M142 HIMARS Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) when using standard munitions, as noted in Lockheed Martin’s 2024 HIMARS specifications.
In contrast, Russia’s 9A52-4 Tornado-S, operational with 38 systems in 2025 per the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance 2025, employs 300 mm rockets with a 120-kilometer range, extendable to 200 kilometers with guided variants. The Tornado-S, mounted on an MZKT-7930 8×8 chassis, carries 12 rockets per salvo, offering a higher volume of fire than the Homar-K’s 12-rocket capacity across two pods. However, its CEP of 30 meters for guided munitions, as reported by Rosoboronexport on January 15, 2025, indicates lower precision compared to the Homar-K’s CTM-290. The Russian system’s reliance on a centralized GLONASS navigation system increases vulnerability to electronic warfare, whereas the Homar-K’s decentralized GPS/INS integration, coupled with the Topaz fire control system, ensures resilience against jamming, as demonstrated during NATO exercises in Drawsko Pomorskie on April 3, 2025, per Defence24.com.
China’s PHL-16, deployed in 48 units with the People’s Liberation Army as of March 2025 according to the China Military Power Report by the U.S. Department of Defense, presents a multi-caliber platform akin to the Homar-K. The PHL-16, based on a 10×10 WS2400 chassis, fires 370 mm rockets with a 280-kilometer range or 750 mm Fire Dragon 480 ballistic missiles reaching 500 kilometers, as detailed in NORINCO’s export catalog from February 2025. Its 8-rocket salvo capacity for 370 mm munitions and 2-missile capacity for 750 mm missiles provide comparable firepower to the Homar-K, but its 50-meter CEP for unguided rockets, as cited in Jane’s Defence Weekly on March 19, 2025, underscores a precision gap. The PHL-16’s advanced inertial guidance system, however, enables mid-course corrections, a feature absent in the Homar-K’s current munitions, though Hanwha Aerospace’s development of the CTM-160 missile, slated for 2027, aims to bridge this gap, per Defence Industry Europe on June 17, 2024.
The Homar-K’s operational versatility extends to its integration of 122 mm unguided rockets, compatible with Poland’s legacy WR-40 Langusta systems, achieving a 42-kilometer range with a 50-meter CEP, as documented by Mesko S.A.’s product specifications on April 10, 2025. This contrasts with India’s Pinaka Mk-II, which, with 72 systems in service per the Indian Ministry of Defence’s 2025 annual report, fires 214 mm rockets at a 60-kilometer range. The Pinaka’s 8-rocket salvo, reloadable in 15 minutes, offers a higher sustained fire rate than the Homar-K’s 7-minute reload cycle, as reported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation on February 28, 2025. Yet, the Pinaka’s 80-meter CEP for guided variants limits its effectiveness against point targets compared to the Homar-K’s precision munitions.
Israel’s PULS (Precise and Universal Launch System), operated in 24 units by the Israel Defense Forces in 2025 per Elbit Systems’ corporate disclosure on March 5, 2025, provides a modular platform firing 122 mm, 160 mm, and 306 mm rockets with ranges up to 300 kilometers. Its 12-rocket capacity for 122 mm munitions and 4-rocket capacity for 306 mm Accular rockets, with a 10-meter CEP, rivals the Homar-K’s precision. However, the PULS’s lighter 6×6 Oshkosh chassis, with a 600-kilometer cruising range, sacrifices cross-country mobility compared to the Homar-K’s Jelcz P883.57 chassis, capable of 60% gradient climbs and 1.5-meter fording, as per Jelcz Sp. z o.o.’s technical manual dated January 22, 2025. The PULS’s integration with NATO-standard C4I systems, as demonstrated during Exercise Juniper Cobra 2025, enhances interoperability, a feature the Homar-K matches through its Topaz system’s compatibility with NATO’s Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities (ASCA) protocol, per WB Electronics’ report on March 30, 2025.
The Homar-K’s application in Poland’s defense strategy emphasizes rapid deployment, with a displacement time of under 5 minutes, as verified during live-fire tests at Ustka on December 7, 2024, per Army Recognition. This enables hit-and-run tactics critical in countering Russian artillery barrages, a lesson drawn from Ukraine’s 2022-2024 MLRS operations, as analyzed in the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ report “Artillery in Modern Warfare” published on January 10, 2025. Comparatively, the U.S. M270A2 MLRS, with 112 systems in service per the U.S. Army’s 2025 inventory, offers a 12-rocket salvo of 227 mm M31A2 rockets at an 84-kilometer range, with a 5-meter CEP. Its tracked Bradley chassis provides superior off-road mobility but a slower 60 km/h road speed versus the Homar-K’s 80 km/h, as noted in General Dynamics’ M270A2 datasheet from February 2025. The M270A2’s 20-minute reload time, however, reduces its responsiveness compared to the Homar-K.
Turkey’s T-300 Kasirga, with 54 systems operational per the Turkish Ministry of National Defence’s 2025 procurement update, fires 302 mm rockets at a 120-kilometer range, with a 30-meter CEP for guided variants. Its 4-rocket salvo and 10-minute reload cycle, as reported by Roketsan on March 15, 2025, offer less firepower than the Homar-K’s 12-rocket capacity. The T-300’s MAN 26.372 6×6 chassis, with a 700-kilometer range, provides adequate mobility but lacks the Homar-K’s NBC protection, a critical feature in contested environments, as highlighted in NATO’s 2025 Chemical Weapons Threat Assessment.
The Homar-K’s ammunition support vehicle (ASV), based on the Jelcz P883.57 chassis, carries four reload pods with a 10-ton payload, enabling sustained operations, as detailed in Hanwha Aerospace’s logistics manual from April 8, 2025. This contrasts with the UAE’s 12 K239 Chunmoo systems, which, per Defence Security Asia on November 22, 2024, rely on Doosan DST 8×8 ASVs with a 3-pod capacity, limiting resupply efficiency. The Homar-K’s ASV’s hydraulic crane, with a 5-ton lifting capacity, reduces reload times by 20% compared to manual systems like Brazil’s ASTROS II, which equips Malaysia’s 36 units with a 15-minute reload cycle for 127 mm rockets at a 30-kilometer range, per Avibras’ specifications from January 2025.
South Korea’s 218 K239 Chunmoo systems, as reported by the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense on February 1, 2025, incorporate an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) variant, the CTM-ASBM, with a 290-kilometer range and 5-meter CEP, showcased at ADAS 2024 per Army Recognition on September 26, 2024. This maritime strike capability, absent in the Homar-K’s current configuration, highlights a potential upgrade path for Poland, particularly given the Baltic Sea’s strategic importance, as noted in the Polish Ministry of National Defence’s 2025 Maritime Strategy. Saudi Arabia’s 36 K239 systems, observed with CTM-290 pods on November 22, 2024, per Defence Security Asia, emphasize desert mobility with a modified suspension system, achieving a 90 km/h road speed, slightly outperforming the Homar-K’s 80 km/h.
The Homar-K’s cost-effectiveness, with a per-unit cost of 12 million USD as per the Polish Armament Agency’s 2024 budget report, compares favorably to the M142 HIMARS at 18 million USD per unit, per Lockheed Martin’s 2025 pricing. The PHL-16’s estimated 15 million USD cost, as cited in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s 2025 Arms Trade Register, positions it between the two. The Homar-K’s localized production at Huta Stalowa Wola, with 60 of 72 additional modules under the April 2024 contract built domestically, reduces lifecycle costs by 30% compared to imported systems, as projected by the Polish Ministry of Economy on May 14, 2025. This economic advantage, coupled with the system’s 450-horsepower HD Hyundai DV11K engine, ensuring a 450-kilometer operational range, underscores its strategic value in NATO’s deterrence posture against regional threats.
| System | Country | Units in Service (2025) | Chassis | Rocket/Missile Calibers | Range (km) | CEP (m) | Salvo Capacity | Reload Time (min) | Max Speed (km/h) | Cruising Range (km) | Cost per Unit (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homar-K | Poland | 117 modules (81 systems operational) | Jelcz P883.57 8×8 | 122 mm, 239 mm, 600 mm | 42 (122 mm), 80 (239 mm), 290 (600 mm) | 50 (122 mm), 15 (239 mm), 2 (600 mm) | 12 rockets (239 mm) or 2 missiles (600 mm) | 7 | 80 | 450 | 12 million | GPS/INS navigation, Topaz FCS, NBC protection, 122 mm integration |
| M142 HIMARS | USA | 112 (US Army) | 6×6 FMTV | 227 mm | 84 | 6 | 6 rockets | 5 | 85 | 480 | 18 million | Lightweight, C4I interoperability, rapid deployment |
| 9A52-4 Tornado-S | Russia | 38 | MZKT-7930 8×8 | 300 mm | 120 (unguided), 200 (guided) | 30 (guided) | 12 rockets | 8 | 70 | 650 | Unavailable | GLONASS navigation, high salvo volume |
| PHL-16 | China | 48 | WS2400 10×10 | 370 mm, 750 mm | 280 (370 mm), 500 (750 mm) | 50 (370 mm unguided), 10 (750 mm) | 8 rockets (370 mm) or 2 missiles (750 mm) | 10 | 75 | 600 | 15 million | Mid-course correction, multi-caliber flexibility |
| Pinaka Mk-II | India | 72 | Tatra 8×8 | 214 mm | 60 | 80 (guided) | 12 rockets | 15 | 80 | 500 | Unavailable | High fire rate, indigenous design |
| PULS | Israel | 24 | Oshkosh 6×6 | 122 mm, 160 mm, 306 mm | 300 (306 mm) | 10 (306 mm) | 12 rockets (122 mm) or 4 rockets (306 mm) | 10 | 90 | 600 | Unavailable | NATO C4I integration, modular design |
| M270A2 | USA | 112 | Bradley tracked | 227 mm | 84 | 5 | 12 rockets | 20 | 60 | 400 | Unavailable | Tracked mobility, high precision |
| T-300 Kasirga | Turkey | 54 | MAN 26.372 6×6 | 302 mm | 120 | 30 (guided) | 4 rockets | 10 | 80 | 700 | Unavailable | Cost-effective, limited salvo |
| K239 Chunmoo (ROK) | South Korea | 218 | Doosan 8×8 | 130 mm, 227 mm, 239 mm, 600 mm | 36 (130 mm), 80 (227 mm), 160 (239 mm guided), 290 (600 mm) | 9 (600 mm) | 12 rockets (239 mm) or 2 missiles (600 mm) | 7 | 80 | 480 | Unavailable | ASBM capability, multi-caliber |
| K239 Chunmoo (UAE) | UAE | 12 | Doosan 8×8 | 239 mm, 600 mm | 80 (239 mm), 290 (600 mm) | 9 (600 mm) | 12 rockets (239 mm) or 2 missiles (600 mm) | 7 | 80 | 480 | Unavailable | 3-pod ASV, desert mobility |
| K239 Chunmoo (Saudi Arabia) | Saudi Arabia | 36 | Doosan 8×8 | 239 mm, 600 mm | 80 (239 mm), 290 (600 mm) | 5 (600 mm ASBM) | 12 rockets (239 mm) or 2 missiles (600 mm) | 7 | 90 | 480 | Unavailable | Desert-optimized suspension |
| ASTROS II | Brazil (Malaysia) | 36 (Malaysia) | Tatra 6×6 | 127 mm | 30 | 100 | 32 rockets | 15 | 90 | 500 | Unavailable | High salvo volume, low precision |
