Hwasong-6

The Hwasong-6 (Korean: 화성 6; Hancha: 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 It was superseded by the Rodong-1.

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). 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.

A variant with terminal maneuverability was tested in May 2017. U.S. intelligence referred to the upgraded missile as the KN-18.

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 and to Yemen. Myanmar also imported Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles in 2009. About 25 hwasong-6 ballistic missiles were purchased by Vietnam from North Korea in 1997. 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.

See also

• Hwasong-5 – (North Korea)
• R-11 Zemlya – (Soviet Union)
• R-17 Elbrus – (Soviet Union)
• Scud missile – (Soviet Union)
• Ghaznavi – (Pakistan)
• Abdali-I – (Pakistan)
• Shaheen-I – (Pakistan)
• J-600T Yıldırım – (Turkey)
• SOM – (Turkey)
• Bora – (Turkey)
• Fateh-313 – (Iran)
• Qiam 1 – (Iran)
• al-Husayn – (Iraq)
• Nasr – (Pakistan)
• Zelzal – (Iran)
• Tondar-69 – (Iran)
• Burkan-1 – (Yemen)

References