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
WarsYemeni Civil War (2015-present)
Production history
ManufacturerNorth Korea/Iran/Syria/Myanmar
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 It was superseded by the Rodong-1.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]

Variant with terminal maneuverability was tested in May 2017.[6] U.S. intelligence referred to the upgraded missile as the KN-18.[7]

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.[8] Uncertain status of Hwasong-6 export to Vietnam.[9]

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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2019-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. North Korea’s New Short-Range Missiles: A Technical Evaluation. 38 North. 9 October 2019.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2019-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. https://mobile.twitter.com/ArmsControlWonk/status/974686166313189377
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