Now Tallinn needs to hold out until 2027.
If the K239 Chunmoo launcher is positioned even in Lithuania, it will be able to sink ships at Russia's main naval base in the Baltic Sea.
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments has signed a contract with the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace for the supply of MLRS K239 Chunmoo for 290 million euros. For this price, 6 units of K239 Chunmoo will be delivered, along with three types of ammunition for them. As noted by the military portal Defense Express, this opens up the possibility of sinking ships with ballistic missiles directly in St. Petersburg, effectively closing the Baltic Sea to them.
It is noted that this contract includes the option to order additional K239 Chunmoo units in the future. Deliveries under the contract are expected to begin in the second half of 2027.
The three types of missiles in question are the 239-mm CGR-080 with a range of 80 kilometers (analogous to GMLRS), the 280-mm CTM-MR with a range of 160 km (analogous to ER GMLRS), and the 600-mm CTM-290 with a range of 290 km (analogous to ATACMS). It is noted that all of them use standard GPS and inertial systems for guidance.
"In fact, this is the same set of missile types that was acquired along with 6 units of American HIMARS back in 2022. However, the South Korean K239 Chunmoo has a slightly larger assortment of missile types," analysts note.
Thus, Defense Express writes, among them are interesting and relevant options for Estonia. In particular, the anti-ship CTM-ASBM. This is a modified CTM-MR with the same dimensions and range, which has already been ordered by the Estonians. It is noted that the CTM-ASBM, in addition to certain other changes, has an infrared homing head, which allows it to strike ships.
"This means that it is a ballistic anti-ship missile with a range of 160 km, capable of salvo launching up to 8 units from one launcher. And this is exactly what is needed to strike one of the main naval bases of the Russian Federation in the Baltic Sea - Kronstadt near St. Petersburg, which is only 110 km from the border," the report states.
It is emphasized that the range of the CTM-ASBM is sufficient to strike St. Petersburg itself, as well as to block access to the Baltic Sea from the mainland part of Russia.
"And if the K239 Chunmoo launcher is positioned in hypothetical Lithuania, it will be able to easily sink ships in the Kaliningrad enclave and the main naval base of the Russian Federation in the Baltic Sea - Baltiysk," analysts noted.
At the same time, Defense Express points out that "this is only a speculation, and there is currently no talk of supplying ballistic anti-ship missiles CTM-ASBM to Estonia, although such a possibility is quite real and rather desirable." The publication also notes that these missiles will not replace conventional anti-ship missiles but will rather complement them.
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