JELCZ Sp. z o. o. has officially handed over the initial Homar-K (English: Lobster, K for Korean or Kolowy (Wheeled)) vehicle, integrated with the South Korean K239 Chunmoo launcher, to the Polish Land Forces 18th Artillery Regiment. This delivery marks a significant collaboration between South Korean and Polish defense industries, reinforcing national security efforts. The Homar-K vehicle, built on a P883.57 8×8 truck chassis by JELCZ, boasts an armored three-seater cabin and an eight-wheeled drive configuration, making it adaptable for both rugged off-road terrains and paved surfaces. With dimensions of 11 meters in length and 2.8 meters in width, the vehicle exhibits exceptional maneuverability, capable of surmounting obstacles up to 30 cm in height, crossing ditches as wide as 60 cm, and navigating water obstacles up to 1 meter deep.
On 13 October 2022, Polish Armament Agency announced that the negotiations with South Korea to acquire nearly 300 K239 Chunmoo systems had been completed and the framework agreement will be signed on October 17. Poland had originally intended to procure 500 American M142 HIMARS launchers, but such an order could not be fulfilled in a satisfactory timeline, so decision was made to split the HIMARS order into two stages, buying less of them and adding Chunmoo procurement. Under the supply agreement inked in December of the previous year, a total of 59 vehicles, tailored to diverse program specifications, are slated for delivery between 2023 and 2026. On 20 August 2023, one Homar-K, which completed system integration and testing in South Korea, was deployed to the 18th Mechanised Division of the Polish Land Forces after being delivered to Poland.
These variants encompass chassis optimized for missile transport, launcher modules, as well as command and communication systems. The comprehensive contract also encompasses critical elements such as testing procedures, technical documentation development, and extensive training for drivers and maintenance personnel. The ongoing integration efforts, fusing the Korean launchers with Polish systems and components, are swiftly progressing to meet the year-end goal of delivering a dozen Homar-K multi-launch rocket systems to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities. The commitment to enhancing the armed forces but also represents a strategic shift towards greater self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
Built to meet Polish Land Forces requirements, the system will ultimately integrate a Polish-designed TOPAZ fire control system and be serviced with a South Korean CGR080 239 mm guided rocket produced in Poland under license and a 600 mm short-range tactical ballistic missile known as the Ure 2 (Thunder) or KTSSM (Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile, Chunmoo Tactical Missile) with a range of 290 km. Six 239 mm Chunmoo Guided Rockets (CGR080) with either high explosive penetration warheads, or cluster bombs with 300 bomblets, designed for the K239 Chunmoo with a range of 80 km (50 mi). Hanwha Aerospace is undergoing further development to use the Polish 122 mm rocket in the Homar-K system. The Homar-K is capable of launching K33 131 mm rockets, but not 130 mm rockets (such as the K30, K37 and K38), which are used in the existing K136 Kooryong rocket artillery system.
