Hwasong-6

The Hwasong-6 (Korean: 화성 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.

Hwasong 6
TypeSRBM
Service history
Used byNorth Korea, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Myanmar, Egypt, Viet Nam
WarsYemeni Civil War (2015-present)
Production history
ManufacturerNorth Korea/Iran
Specifications
Length12 m
Diameter0.88 m
WarheadOne
Engineliquid
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)[1]
Guidance
system
inertial

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 It was superseded by the Rodong-1.

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).[2][3][4] 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.[5] Hwasong-6 was delivered to United Arab Emirates in 1999.[6]

Variant with terminal maneuverability was tested in May 2017.[7] U.S. intelligence referred to the upgraded missile as the KN-18.[8]

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[5] and to Yemen.[9]Myanmar also imported Scud-type Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles in 2009.[10]Uncertain status of Hwasong-6 export to Vietnam.[11]

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2019-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Hwasong-6 (Scud-C) short-range tactical ballistic missile Archived 2017-03-13 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com
  3. ‘Scud C’ Variant (Hwasong 6) Archived 2016-10-26 at the Wayback Machine - Missilethreat.csis.org
  4. Scud-C Variant (Hwasong 6) Archived 2016-04-05 at the Wayback Machine - Missiledefenseadvocacy.org
  5. Bermudez, Joseph S. (1999). "A History of Ballistic Missile Development in the DPRK: Longer Range Designs, 1989-Present". James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Archived from the original on 2013-04-18. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  6. https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/11/inconvenient-arms-north-korean-weapons.html
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2019-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. North Korea’s New Short-Range Missiles: A Technical Evaluation. 38 North. 9 October 2019.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2019-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. Min Lwin and Wai Moe (25 October 2020). "Junta Forms Missile Force to Guard Against External treats". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  11. https://mobile.twitter.com/ArmsControlWonk/status/974686166313189377
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