Special Report: Norway orders Chunmoo MRLs

The NDMA signed a contract with Hanwha Aerospace on 30 January for the procurement of 16 K239 Chunmoo MRLs. (Hanwha Aerospace)

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) signed a contract with Hanwha Aerospace on 30 January for the procurement of K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), the NDMA and South Korean company have announced. Deliveries are planned to begin in 2028 to equip a new rocket artillery battalion to be established by the Norwegian Army, the NDMA said in the announcement on its website on 30 January.

Hanwha said in a press release on 1 February that the contract includes the delivery of 16 Chunmoo launch vehicles, a precision-guided missile (PGM) package, and integrated logistics support (ILS). It also includes training programmes, according to the NDMA, which described the number of PGMs as “significant”. The agency added, “Missiles with different ranges will be procured to ensure both overlap with current K9 tube artillery and the ability to engage targets out to 500 km.” The NDMA estimates the cost of rocket artillery munition at NOK1–20 million (USD100,000–2 million) per round, depending on the range.

New capability

The agency noted that precision long-range fires will be a new capability for the Norwegian Army, with Chunmoo able to fire missiles up to 500 km. Minister of Defence Tore Sandvik said, “Long-range precision weapons have a deterrent effect because they can hit targets far inside an adversary's territory if necessary.” Major General Lars Lervik, commander of the Norwegian Army, added that, “'Together with new tube artillery, new tanks, more air defence and drones, this means that we are well on our way to tripling the army's combat power.”