Engineering:Hwasong-6

From HandWiki
Short description: Short-range ballistic missile
Hwasong 6
Hwasong 6.jpg
TypeSRBM
Service history
Used by North Korea
 Iran
 Syria
 Yemen
 Egypt
 Vietnam
 Myanmar
WarsYemeni Civil War (2015-present)
Production history
ManufacturerNorth Korea/Iran
Specifications
Length12 m
Diameter0.88 m
WarheadConventional high-explosive, Fragmentation, Chemical VX warhead

EngineLiquid
Operational
range
600 km (370 mi)
SpeedMach 5
Guidance
system
Inertial

The Hwasong-6 (Korean화성 6; Hanja火星 6) is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile. It is derived from the Hwasong-5, itself a derivative of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. It carries the NATO reporting name Scud.

History

Work on an extended-range version of the Hwasong-5 began in 1988, and with only relatively minor modifications, a new type was produced from 1989, designated Hwasong-6 ("Scud Mod. C" or "Scud-C"). It was first tested in June 1990, and entered full-scale production the same year, or in 1991. It was superseded by the Rodong-1.[citation needed]

To increase range over its predecessor, the Hwasong-6 has its payload decreased to 770 kg (1,700 lb) and the length of the rocket body extended to increase the propellant by 25%; accuracy is 700–1,000 meters circular error probability (CEP).[1][2][3] Such range is sufficient to strike targets as far away as western Japan. Its dimensions are identical to the original Hwasong-5. Due to difficulties in procuring MAZ-543 TELs, mobile launchers were produced in North Korea. By 1999, North Korea was estimated to have produced 600 to 1,000 Hwasong-6 missiles, of which 25 had been launched in tests, 300 to 500 had been exported, and 300 to 600 were in service with the Korean People's Army.[4]

Variant with terminal maneuverability was tested in May 2017.[5] U.S. intelligence referred to the upgraded missile as the KN-18.[6]

Export

The Hwasong-6 was exported to Iran, where it is designated as the Shahab-2, to Syria, where it is manufactured under licence with Chinese assistance[4] and to Yemen.[7] Myanmar also imported Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles in 2009.[8] About 25 hwasong-6 ballistic missiles were purchased by Vietnam from North Korea in 1997.[9] In 1995, Libya purchased 5 Hwasong-6 missiles from North Korea, however they were never tested or deployed, and planned local production was cancelled in 2003 with the disarmament of Libya.[9]

See also

References