The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) recently announced a contract for the export of Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher to Estonia, marking a significant upgrade to Tallinn’s firepower inventory. This deal also highlights the strong momentum of South Korean defence exports to Europe, says GlobalData, an intelligence and productivity platform.
According to GlobalData’s report: “Global Artillery System Market Forecast 2025-2035”, South Korea’s export of artillery systems is projected to reach $10.6 billion by 2035, with Europe accounting for a significant 67% of the export market share between 2025 and 2035. The artillery system exports include the K9 Thunder and the K239 Chunmoo. South Korea itself is expected to procure approximately $11.7 billion worth of artillery systems for its armed forces during the same period.
Tushar Mangure, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “In recent years, South Korean suppliers have leveraged competitive pricing, reliable delivery schedules, and willingness to transfer technological know-how to secure major contracts across Europe, as regional militaries aim to rebuild their stockpiles and modernise rapidly. South Korea has evolved into a robust defence manufacturing base with proven platforms and enhanced local industrial cooperation.
“Consequently, the country has become an increasingly influential player in the global defense supply chain. South Korean companies have also made significant inroads into other high-potential defence markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, aiming to support the military modernisation initiatives of emerging countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Peru.”
For a frontline state on NATO’s northeastern flank, Chunmoo’s long‑range precision fire capability improves Estonia’s ability to secure critical approach routes and logistics nodes. The acquisition comes amid an elevated threat levels following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a possible spillover of the conflict on the wider Baltic region.
Tushar concludes: “This is not the first instance of export success in Europe for South Korean defence equipment. Over the past decade, South Korea has successfully delivered a wide range of advanced defense equipment to multiple European countries. For instance, Poland recently acquired FA-50 military aircraft, K9 self-propelled howitzers, K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, and K2 Black Panther tanks.
“The K9 Thunder has been widely adopted by several European countries, including Finland, Turkey, Romania, and Norway. This highlights South Korea’s substantial presence in the European defence market, which is likely to grow over the next decade owing to heightened threat perceptions and uncertainty about US support in the event of an actual conflict in the region.”
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