Hanwha Aerospace's multiple-launch guided weapon "Cheonmu" has succeeded in entering Estonia after Poland in Europe.
Hanwha Aerospace said on the 22nd that it signed a Cheonmu export contract worth about 440 billion won with Estonia. At the signing ceremony held on the 21st (local time) in Tallinn, Estonia, attendees included Minister Hanno Pevkur of the Ministry of National Defense of Estonia, Acting Director Katri Raudsepp of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment, Vice Administrator Kang Hwan-seok of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Kang Kyung-sung, president of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace.
Under the contract, Hanwha Aerospace will supply Estonia with six Cheonmu launchers and three types of guided missiles with ranges of 80 km, 160 km and 290 km. In response to Europe's "defense bloc," the company will actively pursue localization, including local production of some Cheonmu parts with Estonian corporations and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
This Cheonmu export to Estonia is the result of synergy from the government's active support for defense diplomacy. The strong will for defense cooperation between the two governments, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Cheonmu acquisition between the Ministry of National Defense of Korea and the Ministry of National Defense of Estonia in Oct., strongly backed the conclusion of the contract.
Using this export contract as a bridgehead, Hanwha Aerospace plans to fully introduce its Cheonmu solution to the Baltic states and the Nordic region, including Norway, Latvia and Lithuania, seeking to diversify export markets for a "second K-defense global bestseller."
Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, said, "We are deeply grateful to the Estonian government and military for once again placing their trust in Hanwha's defense solutions, following the K9 self-propelled howitzer," adding, "Together with the government of the Republic of Korea, we will pioneer new export markets and lead the sustainable growth of K-defense."