Europe’s defence policy has picked up speed. The war in Ukraine has made painfully clear how essential long-range firepower is in a modern conflict. At the same time, pressure is growing in Washington on European countries to take more responsibility for their own security. The result is visible: countries are once again investing massively in artillery, missile systems and ammunition production. But look closely and you also see a problem. Europe wants to scale up, but still lacks sufficient production capacity of its own and fast delivery lines.
Against that background, it is striking that France is now looking at a South Korean rocket launch system: the K239 Chunmoo.
France faces a shortage of long-range systems
The French army currently operates M270 rocket artillery, a system comparable to the American MLRS. These launchers, however, are limited in number and technically outdated. At the same time, the war in Ukraine shows that long-range rocket artillery is not a luxury, but a structural part of the modern battlefield.
Precision fire up to hundreds of kilometres behind the front line sets the pace of operations in Ukraine. Command posts, logistics hubs and ammunition depots are systematically taken out. Without sufficient range and volume, it is hard to build deterrence.
France is working on its own successor under the FLP-T programme, but that system is not expected until around 2030. So the question is what to do in the meantime.
The K239 Chunmoo: South Korea’s answer to HIMARS
The system France is now looking at is the K239 Chunmoo, developed by South Korea’s Hanwha. This wheeled multiple rocket launch system is often compared with the American HIMARS, but has some notable features.
The Chunmoo can fire different types of munitions, ranging from 130 mm and 227 mm rockets to heavier precision missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometres. The system is modular, with interchangeable launch pods. That makes it flexible to use, depending on the mission and threat.
What makes the system attractive is the combination of range, mobility and fast availability. South Korea has a strong, largely independent defence industry and can produce relatively quickly. That explains why several European countries have already chosen the Chunmoo.
Europe is increasingly looking to Asia
Poland previously ordered dozens of Chunmoo systems to complement American HIMARS launchers. Norway and Estonia also use the system. As a result, South Korean influence in the European artillery market is growing rapidly.
This fits a broader trend. Countries such as South Korea, Japan and Israel have a mature defence industry with short development cycles and combat-proven systems. At a time when Europe still has to scale up its own production, these countries are logical partners.
The urgency is high. For years, large-scale artillery warfare in Europe was a theoretical scenario. Ukraine has changed that picture for good. Massive use of rocket artillery, precision missiles and long-range systems is once again a daily reality.
The Netherlands and Germany choose PULS
The Netherlands has also recently made a clear choice. Together with Germany, it has opted for the Israeli PULS system from Elbit Systems. That system also offers modular launch options and can fire a variety of rockets, from short-range rockets to tactical ballistic missiles such as the Predator Hawk.
An important difference is that ammunition production will probably take place in Germany. In this way, European countries are trying not only to acquire systems, but also to build industrial knowledge and production capacity within Europe.
That is crucial. Because anyone who remains dependent on foreign deliveries in a prolonged conflict runs a strategic risk.
Deterrence requires volume and production
The core of the debate is simple but uncomfortable. Europe wants to build credible deterrence, but does not yet have sufficient industrial strength of its own everywhere. Many countries scaled down years ago. Stock levels fell and production capacity was reduced.
Now comes the realisation that artillery and long-range missiles are not only technological systems, but also a matter of volume and industrial continuity. The war in Ukraine shows that ammunition stocks dwindle rapidly.
France’s interest in the K239 Chunmoo underlines that point. The country is looking for a temporary but powerful solution until its own system is ready. At the same time, it becomes clear how important countries with a strong defence industry have become in this new reality.
Europe is finally investing seriously in defence again. Domestic production is being started, budgets are rising and partnerships are being expanded. But the coming years will show whether that acceleration is fast enough to close the strategic gap.
A possible French choice for the South Korean K239 Chunmoo is therefore more than a purchase. It is a signal that Europe is reorienting itself towards long-range firepower and that the global defence industry is on the move again.
