Government Adopts Decision to Procure 18 Self-Propelled Chunmoo K239 Multiple Rocket Launchers and Additional Equipment for Rafale Aircraft

At today’s session, the Government adopted a decision approving the Ministry of Defence’s procurement of 18 self-propelled Chunmoo K239 multiple rocket launchers, with a total value of EUR 435.2 million excluding VAT.

The Government adopted five further decisions on the equipping, modernisation and construction of the Croatian Armed Forces, enabling the Ministry of Defence to additionally equip Rafale aircraft with detection and self-protection capabilities, upgrade the Croatian Air Force’s combat communications system, procure anti-armour weapons and equipment, modernise the AN/FPS-117 radar system, and construct a hangar at Zemunik Air Base.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said: “Croatia is investing in its defence capabilities, not to threaten anyone, but to deter any threat, guarantee the security of Croatian citizens, territory and national interests, and thereby contribute to the collective security and defence of Europe.”

He said that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine had demonstrated how important long-range precision-strike capabilities, modern air defence, a high-quality intelligence picture, and secure and protected communications are for defence and deterrence. He also recalled that, at last year’s NATO Summit, the Allies committed to allocating at least 3.5 per cent of GDP to defence and security and up to 1.5 per cent of GDP to defence- and security-related spending by 2035.

Referring to the procurement of 18 South Korean Chunmoo K239 long-range self-propelled multiple rocket launchers, the Prime Minister emphasised: “After the Rafales, this is one of the largest and most important investments in the modernisation of the Croatian Armed Forces since the end of the Homeland War.”

“The Government of the Republic of Croatia is implementing a historic modernisation and equipping of the Croatian Armed Forces. This is a direct investment in the security of the Croatian people. By introducing the Chunmoo K239 rocket system into the Croatian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence will provide the capability to conduct operations with precise and effective fire support at short, medium and long ranges. Chunmoo is a modern and powerful rocket system and is one of the few wheeled multiple rocket launchers capable of carrying two rocket modules simultaneously on a single launcher, including modules with different types of munitions. Delivery of the complete package is planned within 24 to 36 months,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ivan Anušić said.

The Chunmoo K239 is designed to provide rapid and flexible fire support across a wide range of missions, from neutralising tactical targets and concentrations of forces and destroying facilities to engaging high-value strategic targets deep within the adversary’s disposition.

Following completion of the procurement procedure, contracts have been prepared with the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace and the Polish company WB Electronics. The procurement from Hanwha Aerospace will include 18 K239 Chunmoo self-propelled launchers with rocket munitions, while the contract with WB Electronics will provide for the delivery, installation and integration of the command-and-control system.

For this procurement, the Government authorised the Ministry of Defence to acquire non-financial assets in the amount of EUR 544,050,898.75 including VAT, to be implemented from 2026 to 2029. The payment obligation for this procurement in 2026 amounts to EUR 108,810,179.75 including VAT.

By a second decision, the Government granted prior approval to the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations to be charged to the state budget from 2027 to 2029 for this procurement, in the total amount of EUR 435,240,719 including VAT.
“Due to relatively short delivery times of 24–36 months, better availability, lower prices and openness to industrial cooperation, European countries — the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Norway — are increasingly opting to equip themselves with this unique multiple rocket launcher system,” Minister Anušić said.

Rafale

In December 2025, the Croatian and French Ministries of Defence signed a Letter of Intent on the acquisition of enhanced Rafale aircraft capabilities, expressing their intention to further equip and modernise Rafale aircraft from the F3-R operational standard with enhanced F4-standard capabilities.

Today, the Government adopted a decision enabling this modernisation, which includes the acquisition of an additional detection capability that would equip the aircraft with a fully passive detection system meeting the F4 standard and significantly increase detection capabilities at long distances, both day and night.

By using these systems without emitting electromagnetic radiation, the aircraft remains “invisible” to adversary electromagnetic sensors. The equipment will be provided by the French company Dassault Aviation, the original aircraft manufacturer and representative of the companies producing the aircraft’s components, and the only economic operator capable of equipping the aircraft with these systems.

The total value of the non-financial assets to be acquired and the total obligations of the Ministry of Defence amount to EUR 112,224,015.92 including VAT for the period from 2026 to 2032. By a second decision, the Government granted prior approval to the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations to be charged to the state budget from 2027 to 2032 for equipping Rafale aircraft with additional detection and self-protection capabilities, in the total amount of EUR 88,471,727.42 including VAT.

Croatian Air Force Combat Communications System

The Government adopted a decision authorising the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations for the upgrade of the Croatian Air Force combat communications system. The upgrade includes the installation of communications subsystems, a data communications subsystem, and equipment for the protection of data and communications.

The most economically advantageous tender was submitted jointly by THALES and the Croatian company Odašiljači i veze d.o.o., acting as a consortium of tenderers, for the voice communications subsystem. Under the proposal, THALES would manufacture the radio equipment and command-and-control system, while Odašiljači i veze d.o.o. would carry out the installation in Croatia and testing in accordance with NATO standards.

A comparative advantage of THALES is the fact that THALES radio equipment for both voice and data communications is installed on Rafale aircraft. Installing the same equipment at ground radio sites would therefore ensure standardisation and consequently lower maintenance costs.

Furthermore, THALES has transferred technology to the Croatian company Odašiljači i veze, with which it concluded a Consortium Agreement at the end of 2025. In this way, Odašiljači i veze acquired additional competencies and capabilities for the installation and maintenance of these systems for NATO member states.
The Government authorised the Ministry of Defence to acquire non-financial assets in the amount of EUR 41,061,558.75 including VAT. By a second decision, it granted prior approval to the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations to be charged to the state budget from 2027 to 2030 for the upgrade of the system, in the total amount of EUR 23,181,708.75 including VAT.

Modernisation of the AN/FPS-117 Radar System

On 20 December 2024, the Government adopted a Decision on the acquisition of non-financial assets for the Ministry of Defence through the modernisation of the AN/FPS-117 radar system in the amount of EUR 45,000,000 including VAT for the period from 2024 to 2026.

The modernisation of the radar system is being implemented through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).

The total amount of non-financial assets to be acquired through the modernisation of the AN/FPS-117 radar system remains unchanged at EUR 45,000,000 including VAT. According to the current stage of implementation, completion of the modernisation is planned for 2027.

Of the remaining EUR 17,000,000 including VAT, EUR 6,250,000 including VAT is planned to be implemented in 2026 and EUR 10,750,000 including VAT in 2027.
The Government adopted a decision granting prior approval to the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations to be charged to the state budget in 2027 for the modernisation of the radar system, in the total amount of EUR 10,750,000 including VAT.

Anti-Armour Weapons and Equipment

The Government also adopted a decision authorising the Ministry of Defence to conclude a contract for the procurement of anti-armour weapons and equipment.
A draft contract has been prepared with the bidder EuroSpike GmbH of the Federal Republic of Germany in the amount of EUR 13,898,546.78 including VAT, of which EUR 3,000,000 including VAT is to be paid in 2026 and EUR 10,898,546.78 including VAT in 2029.

The Government granted prior approval to the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations to be charged to the state budget in 2029 for this procurement, in the amount of EUR 10,898,546.78 including VAT.

Hangar at Zemunik Air Base

The Ministry of Defence conducted a public procurement procedure for the construction of a multifunctional aircraft maintenance hangar and auxiliary buildings at Zemunik Air Base. The tender submitted by Radnik d.d. was selected, in the amount of EUR 12,172,648.13 including VAT.

According to the planned contract implementation schedule, payments are planned for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

The payment obligation for this procurement in 2026 amounts to EUR 1,000,000 including VAT, while the Government, by its decision, granted prior approval to the Ministry of Defence to assume obligations to be charged to the funds of the state budget of the Republic of Croatia in 2027 and 2028, in the total amount of EUR 11,172,648.13 including VAT.