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Hwasong-16B

(Redirected from Hwasong-16)

The Hwasong-16B[a] (Korean: 《화성포-16나》형; Hancha: 火星砲 16乙型; lit. Mars Artillery Type 16B) is a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

Hwasong-16B
TypeIntermediate-range ballistic missile
Place of originNorth Korea
Service history
Used byKorean People's Army Strategic Force
Production history
Designed2024
ManufacturerNorth Korea
Specifications
Length20–21 m (66–69 ft) (estimated)
Diameter2.1–2.3 m (6.9–7.5 ft)
Propellantsolid-fueled
Maximum speed Mach 15 – Mach 18 (18,400–22,100 km/h) (estimated)
Mach 12 (14,700 km/h) (tested)
Launch
platform
7-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL)

Description

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Images of the Hwasong-16B
  7-axle TEL
  Launch of the missile

Hwasong-16B is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile. It is launched from a seven-axle wheeled transporter erector launcher (TEL). The open-front canister, which in its stored state, has a two-part clam-shell cover on each side. The missile is cold-launched with a gas generator at the end of the launch tube, popping the missile up prior to ignition.[5]

Based on information released after the January 2025 test, it was determined that the Hwasong-16B's engine body used a new composite carbon fiber material.[6] If the Hwasong-16B's range reaches 6,000 km (3,700 mi), it can even attack US military bases in Alaska. Using Hwasong-16B platform, if North Korea reduces the missile structural weight and uses high-energy solid propellant, Hwasong-16B can achieve 8,000 km (5,000 mi) range and become an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[7]

Data from test-fires showed that the missile reached a maximum speed of Mach 12 (14,700 km/h).[6] However, the estimated maximum speed of Hwasong-16B is Mach 15 – Mach 18 (18,400–22,100 km/h).[8]

History

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A parade on 10 October 2020 unveiled the existence of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) larger than the Hwasong-15. It was unofficially dubbed the "Hwasong-16" as part of the Hwasong missile series, though subsequent analysis of footage indicated that it was officially called Hwasong-17.[9]

In November 2023, North Korea announced static ground tests of rocket motors for a solid-fueled IRBM.[10]

After the January test with MaRV version, on 19 March 2024, Kim Jong Un oversaw an initial solid-fuel engine test in preparation for another launch.[11] Hwasong-16B officially made its public debut on 2 April 2024, with a flight test. This launch was made with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) payload akin to the one mounted on the Hwasong-8.[5]

Another Hwasong-16B was test-fired on 6 January 2025. North Korea called the missile as "new-type intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile" without mentioning official name. The launch was supervised by Kim Jong Un and his daughter.[6][12] The missile seen in the January 2025 test is identical to the Hwasong-16B missile tested in April 2024.[13]

List of tests

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Attempt Date Location Pre-launch announcement Outcome Additional notes
1 2 April 2024, 6:53 am Pyongyang Standard Time[14][15] Outskirts of Pyongyang[14][16] None Success First test where the missile was named as Hwasong-16B. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed the missile traveled 1,000 km (620 mi) and reached a maximum altitude of 101.1 km (62.8 mi), and subsequently engaged in a pull-up maneuver reaching an altitude of 72.3 km (44.9 mi). South Korean military assessments said it flew 600 km (370 mi), while Japan's Ministry of Defense estimated a range of 650 km (400 mi), suggesting the HGV test did not successful.[5] The maximum speed was Mach 5 (6,100 km/h).[11]

Kim Jong Un supervised the launch, with senior officials attending.[11] The launch coincided with a joint US/Japan/South Korea trilateral flight exercise.[17][18]

2 6 January 2025, around 12:00 pm Pyongyang Standard Time[19] Outskirts of Pyongyang[12] None Success Japanese and South Korean data showed the missile flew approximately 1,100 km (680 mi). Japan also stated that the missile's apogee was around 100 km (62 mi).[19][20] North Korean data showed the missile flew 1,500 km (930 mi), with a first apogee of 99.8 km (62.0 mi) and a secondary apogee of 42.5 km (26.4 mi). The maximum speed was Mach 12 (14,700 km/h).[6] However, according to South Korean military, the KCNA's report was most likely exaggerated, as South Korea did not detect a secondary apogee and the detected range was around 1,100 km (680 mi).[12]

Responses after Hwasong-16B's maiden flight

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Carnegie Endowment for International Peace researcher Ankit Panda, described the transition to solid-fuel rockets as a heavily favored play by Kim, noting that "There are obvious strategic advantages to an all-solid-fuel force for them in the form of greater promptness, responsiveness, and survivability,"[18]

The launch was condemned by the United Kingdom as a breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions.[18]

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launch as "damaging for regional and international peace and stability".[15]

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a joint investigation ongoing with the U.S., and subsequently on 3 April 2024 it seized a ship off the coast of South Korea in violation of North Korean sanctions.[18]

Variants

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MaRV variant

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Main article: Hwasong-16A

Prior to the April 2024 test of Hwasong-16B with hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), in January 2024, a variant of Hwasong-16B with maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) was tested. The official name of this variant may be Hwasong-16A, but it remains unconfirmed.[16][21][22]

MIRV test vehicle

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The two-stage solid-propellant booster, which was used for the tests of Hwasong-16A and Hwasong-16B, was unofficially called as Hwasong-16. It is based on the Hwasong-18 solid-fueled ICBM.[13]

On 26 June 2024, North Korea test-fired a missile using the first stage of Hwasong-16 to test multiple independently-targeted reentry vehicles (MIRVs). The missile that had the first stage to be used in this test was not officially named, instead, North Korean state media depicting it as "an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile" and claimed the test was a success.[23] According to South Korea and Japan, the missile flew 250 km (160 mi) with an apogee of 100 km (62 mi), failed to release any warhead and exploded in midair before falling into Sea of Japan.[24][25]

The nose cone of the MIRV test vehicle resembling that of Hwasong-17.[25]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Also known as Hwasong-16Na,[1] Hwasongpho-16Na,[2] Hwasongpho-16B.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ Tianran Xu (12 April 2024). "HGV Unproven at IRBM Ranges: Analysis of the April 2 Hwasong-16Na Hypersonic Missile Test". 38 North. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  2. ^ "DPRK Missile Administration Succeeds in Test-fire of New-type Intermediate-range Hypersonic Missile". Korean Central News Agency. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  3. ^ Minh Huệ (7 January 2025). "Triều Tiên phóng tên lửa đầu tiên trong năm 2025" [North Korea test-fired first missile in 2025]. Gia Lai Online (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  4. ^ "DPRK Missile Administration Succeeds in Test-fire of New-type Intermediate-range Hypersonic Missile". Minju Joson. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Vann H. Van Diepen (5 April 2024). "Second Flight of North Korea's Solid IRBM Also Second Flight of HGV". 38 North. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "DPRK Missile Administration Succeeds in Test-fire of New-type Intermediate-range Hypersonic Ballistic Missile". Korean Central News Agency. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  7. ^ Thu Thủy (8 January 2025). "Khám phá tên lửa tầm trung siêu thanh Hwasong-16B Triều Tiên vừa phóng thử nghiệm" [Discovering the Hwasong-16B hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile that North Korea has just tested]. VietTimes (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  8. ^ Min Dae-ho (3 April 2024). ""北, 절대 요격 어려운 극초음속미사일 성공"…美 방처체계 '구멍'" ["North Korea succeeds in launching hypersonic missile that is absolutely difficult to intercept"... 'Holes' in US defense system]. Korea Report (in Korean). Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  9. ^ Xu, Tianran (18 October 2021). "Brief on the Defense Development Exhibition of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Open Nuclear Network: 7.
  10. ^ "New IRBM Solid-fuel Engine Test Conducted in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  11. ^ a b c "Hwasong-16B Glide Vehicle". tippinsights. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Hyonhee, Shin (7 January 2025). "North Korea successfully tests new intermediate-range missile, state media says". Reuters. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  13. ^ a b Vann H. Van Diepen (9 January 2025). "Half A Loaf: Third Hwasong-16 Solid IRBM Test Shows Booster is Ready but HGV Payload Needs Work". 38 North. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  14. ^ a b Kim Tong-Hyung; Hyung-Jin Kim (1 April 2024). "North Korea fires an intermediate-range missile into its eastern waters, South Korea says". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b Park, Ju-min (2 April 2024). "North Korea fires suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile". Reuters. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  16. ^ a b Kim Tong-Hyung (2 April 2024). "North Korea says it tested a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile that's easier to hide". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ Mahadzir, Dzirhan (3 April 2024). "North Korea Tests Hypersonic Weapon Following U.S. Navy Ballistic Missile Intercept Test". USNI. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d "North Korea aims to adopt solid-fuel missiles for faster launches". The Japan Times. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b Zwirko, Colin (6 January 2025). "North Korea fires intermediate-range missile in first launch in two months: ROK". NK News. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  20. ^ "北朝鮮のミサイル等関連情報" [North Korean missiles and other related informations]. Japanese Ministry of Defense (in Japanese). 6 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  21. ^ "北朝鮮が中距離級の極超音速滑空ミサイル「火星16ナ（火星16B）」の発射試験に成功" [North Korea successfully test-fires medium-range hypersonic glide missile Hwasong-16Na (Hwasong-16B)]. Yahoo News Japan (in Japanese). 3 April 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  22. ^ "North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024" (PDF). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  23. ^ "DPRK Missile Administration Conducts Test of New Important Technology". Korean Central News Agency. 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  24. ^ Vann H. Van Diepen (2 July 2024). "North Korea Reveals a Multiple-warhead Payload in Probable Failed Test". 38 North. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  25. ^ a b Colin Zwirko (27 June 2024). "North Korea says it successfully tested multiple warhead missile system". NK News. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
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