Poland is set to sign a framework agreement for the purchase of 288 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers from South Korea, the Polish defence ministry said on Tuesday.
Under the deal set to be signed by Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak on Wednesday, 18 of the rocket launchers will be delivered in 2023 and mounted on Polish Jelcz vehicles.
The ministry said in a statement that the system can carry ballistic missiles with a range of 290 kilometres (180 miles) as well as guided missiles with 80-kilometre range.
Poland has massively stepped up weapons purchases since Russia invaded Ukraine, as well as sending military aid to Kyiv and taking in millions of Ukrainian refugees.
Blaszczak last week said the South Korean deals would not affect Poland’s existing order of HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems from the United States which are due to be delivered next year.
Poland this week is also receiving its first K2 tanks and K9 artillery from South Korea under orders made earlier this year.
Poland has signed a framework agreement for the delivery of 1,000 K2s.
The first order has been made for 180 tanks for a value of $3.35 billion to be delivered between 2022 and 2025.
Under the K9 framework agreement, Poland is due to receive 672 of the howitzers and has made an initial order for 212 to be delivered starting this year for $2.4 billion.
Poland last month also ordered 50 South Korean FA-50 fighter jets for $2.3 billion.
The specialist website Defense News said Poland is now the biggest purchaser of South Korean armament in Europe.
