The Hwasong-16A (Korean: 《화성-16가》형; lit. Mars Type 16A) is presumed to be the official designation for a North Korean two-stage, solid-fueled hypersonic, intermediate-range ballistic missile.[2][3][4]

Description

The missile is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile,[1] using the first two stages of the Hwasong-18 solid-fueled ICBM. A solid-fuel IRBM would be able to threaten U.S. military bases such as on Guam as far as 3,300 km (2,100 mi) away from North Korea, while having the same advantages of being easier to move and quicker to launch than the liquid-fueled Hwasong-12 IRBM. North Korean media also claimed the missile was equipped with a hypersonic warhead, which was similar to the conical, finned maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) payload used on the Hwasong-8's MaRV version. Such a payload would complicate ballistic missile defenses due to its lower altitude flight path keeping it below radar coverage longer and the ability to perform terminal maneuvers.[5][6][7]

History

In November 2023, North Korea announced static ground tests of solid-fuelled engines for a solid-fueled IRBM.[8]

On 14 January 2024, the missile made its public debut with a flight test. South Korea said that the missile had flew 1,000 km (620 mi), and Japanese data showed it traveled at least 500 km (310 mi) at the maximum altitude of 50 km (31 mi). The missile is not officially named.[9]

After the maiden flight test of Hwasong-16B in April 2024, there is speculated that if the HGV payload-equipped version of the missile is designated as Hwasong-16B, then the previous MaRV payload-equipped version can be designated as Hwasong-16A.[3][10] However, this designation remains unconfirmed.[4]

List of tests

Attempt Date Location Pre-launch announcement Outcome Additional notes
1 14 January 2024 Around Pyongyang None Success South Korea claimed it travelled 1,000 km (620 mi), while Japan claimed it flew at least 500 km (310 mi).[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Yoon Sang-ho (16 January 2024). "서울 1분내 타격… 北 음속10배 IRBM, 사드로 요격 어려워" [Seoul can be hit within 1 minute… North Korea's IRBM is 10 times faster than sound, difficult to intercept with THAAD]. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024" (PDF). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b Vann H. Van Diepen (18 January 2024). "North Korea Tests New Solid IRBM With MaRV Payload". 38 North. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  6. ^ Brad Lendon; Yoonjung Seo (15 January 2024). "North Korea claims another successful test of its hypersonic glide missile tech". CNN. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  7. ^ Hyung-Jin Kim (14 January 2024). "North Korea launches a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile that can reach distant US bases". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  8. ^ "New IRBM Solid-fuel Engine Test Conducted in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Hypersonic Missile Test-fire Conducted in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwasong-16A
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