Hyunmoo

Hyunmoo
현무
TypeSurface-to-surface ballistic missile
Surface-to-surface cruise missile
Submarine-launched ballistic missile
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
In service1987–present
Used byRepublic of Korea Armed Forces
Production history
DesignerAgency for Defense Development
ManufacturerHanwha
LIG Nex1 (Hyunmoo-3)
Produced1980s–present
VariantsHyunmoo-1
Hyunmoo-2A
Hyunmoo-2B
Hyunmoo-2c
Hyunmoo-3A
Hyunmoo-3B
Hyunmoo-3C
Hyunmoo-3D
Hyunmoo-4
Hyunmoo-4.4 (submarine version)
Hyunmoo-5 (bunker buster)
Specifications
Mass36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb) (Hyunmoo-5)
WarheadConventional
Payload capacity500 to 8,000 kg (1,100 to 17,600 lb)
Propellantsolid fuel
Operational
range
up to 3,000 km (1,900 mi)
Maximum speed >Mach 4 (3,045 mph; 4,900 km/h)
Guidance
system
command guidance
Launch
platform
mobile launchers
TransportKM1500

Hyunmoo (Korean: 현무; Hanja: 玄武) is a series of South Korean ballistic and cruise missiles developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Hanwha and LIG Nex1.[1]

The Hyunmoo-1 was a variant of the NHK-1 Baekgom (Nike Hercules Korea-1 White Bear; Korean: NHK-1 백곰) missile whose propulsion engine was modified based on the technology transfer of the American Nike Hercules and has been deployed to the ROK Armed Forces from 1987. Later, Hyunmoo-1 was retired in 2018 due to the further development of the Hyunmoo-2 with a longer range.[2]

Hyunmoo-1

A Hyunmoo-1 being pulled by a Kia KM500 truck during the 65th Anniversary of ROK Armed Forces in Seoul

Hyunmoo-1 is the first domestically-produced ballistic missile used by the South Korean Army. It was developed by the South Korean national Agency for Defense Development, and is based on the American 1960s Nike Hercules missile system; the US designates it as the Nike Hercules Korea (NHK-1).[3] In 1986, South Korea succeeded in test-launching a missile with a current payload of 480 kg (1,060 lb) and a range of 180 km (110 mi).

The Hyunmoo system, which means "guardian angel of the northern skies" in Korean, launches a missile from a mobile launcher which is fire-controlled from the missile battery's command and control vehicle. The Hyunmoo-1 missile, which is 12 m (39 ft) long and weighing 5 t (11,000 lb), is propelled by a two-stage solid rocket motor. It features an independent inertial guidance and control system which means it can reach any target in any weather conditions without further commands after launch.

U.S. government control over missile development programs

Main article: South Korea Ballistic Missile Range Guidelines

In 1990 the US withheld approval on a request by South Korea to start selling the Hyunmoo-1 abroad. The US only granted export approval after South Korea provided technical information on its Hyunmoo system, and agreed to not develop rockets with ranges of more than 180 km (110 mi). South Korea was permitted to produce a limited number of Hyunmoo missiles under US inspection until production ended.

Specifications

Missile Hyunmoo-1
Length 12.53 m (41.1 ft) overall
8.18 m (26.8 ft) at second stage
Diameter 0.8 m (2.6 ft) booster
0.53 m (1.7 ft) at second stage
Fin span 3.5 m (11 ft) booster
1.88 m (6.2 ft) at second stage
Mass 4,850 kg (10,690 lb) at launch
2,505 kg (5,523 lb) at second stage
Maximum speed Mach 3.65 (ca. 4,470 km/h (2,780 mph; 1.24 km/s; 0.772 mi/s))
Range 180 km (110 mi)
Ceiling 45,700 m (149,900 ft)
First stage Hercules M42 solid-fueled rocket cluster
(4x M5E1 Nike boosters)
978 kN (220,000 lbf) total
Second stage Thiokol M30 solid-fueled rocket
44.4 kN (10,000 lbf)
Warhead T-45 HE warhead weighing
500 kg (1,100 lb) and containing 272 kg (600 lb) of HBX-6
M17 blast-fragmentation

Hyunmoo-2

The Hyunmoo-2A was the first of South Korea's attempts to develop an newer indigenous ballistic missile with an increased range, over Hyunmoo-1. Due to an agreement in 2001 with the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), the missile's range was limited to 300 km. It is carried by a 4 axle transporter erector launcher (TEL).

Eventually the missile range was increased to 800 km which spurred on the development of Hyunmoo-2B and Hyunmoo-2C.

South Korea released the upgraded version of Hyunmoo-2A, named Hyunmoo-2B, which was put into service in late 2009. This ballistic missile had an increased range of 500 km.[4] If launched from the central region of South Korea, all of North Korean territory is under a 550-kilometer striking range.[5] Its accuracy is 30 m circular error probable.[6]

The upgraded version of Hyunmoo-2B, named Hyunmoo-2C, was unveiled in 2017. The ballistic missile has an increased range of 800 km,[7] but with a warhead weight reduced by half, and uses a different type of TEL with 5 axles (K501),[8] and launch canister that is wider and longer, suggesting increased weight.[9] The warhead section features maneuvering fins (similar to those on Pershing II), which suggests a maneuverable reentry vehicle or some type of terminal guidance for increased accuracy.[10] It has extreme accuracy (circular error probable of 1–5 m), ideal as a bunker buster.[11] If fired from southernmost Jeju Island, it can still reach all of North Korea but will be outside the range of North Korean Scud missiles.[5]

The missile is suspected to be a derivative of the Russian Iskander missile.[12][13][14][15][16] From video and pictures published by the South Korean military and media, the Hyunmoo-II missile's head is similar to the Russian Iskander missile and the double cone structure of China's M20 missile, missile shape and Iskander missile is very similar.[13] Even the tail is the Iskander-style truncated delta wing.[13] There is precedent for cooperation on missile technology between Russia and South Korea — Seoul's KM-SAM air-defence system is based on the Russian 9M96E missile developed for the S-400 Triumf (SA-21 "Growler") system — but there are also resemblances with the American ATACMS and Israeli LORA missiles.[17][18][19][20][14]

Hyunmoo 4-4

The first test launch of the Hyunmoo 4-4 SLBM in September 2021

On 7 September 2021, South Korea tested a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from a Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine, making it the third country to develop a conventionally-armed SLBM capability on a conventionally powered (diesel-electric) submarine after the Soviet Union (Golf-class submarine) and North Korea (Sinpo-class submarine). The missile was the Hyunmoo 4-4, a variant of the Hyunmoo-2B with a 500 km range.[21][22]

Hyunmoo-3

Main article: Hyunmoo-3
Hyunmoo-3 missile carrier of 5th Corps

In 2006, the South Korean defense ministry released a statement that it had been testing several cruise missiles under the series of Hyunmoo-3 which were similar to the American Tomahawk or the Russian Kalibr. The first official model, Hyunmoo-3B, was unveiled in 2009 with a maximum range of 1,000 km meaning it could hit any part of North Korea as well as some parts of China and Tokyo. Unlike Hyunmoo-2 missiles, the Hyunmoo-3 missiles would use cruise missile technology. It uses the same four axle TEL like the Hyunmoo 2.

The Hyunmoo-3C missile's deployment is still unknown. The missile would have an increased maximum range of 1,500 km.[23]

Hyunmoo-3D/Hyunmoo-4 are under speculation however work on such a missile is unlikely to occur any time soon due to regulations on missile range. Some cite its deployment for the late 2030s, however, such a missile is still a grey area to the public.

Hyunmoo-4

While the South Korean military's missiles are currently capable of destroying structures at surface level, it says it needs heavier warheads to be able to destroy North Korea's underground facilities and bunkers.[24] The new Hyunmoo IV ballistic missile[25][26] is fitted with a new warhead capable of destroying North Korea's underground military facilities, command centers and its leadership[27] and is probably a variant of the extended-range Hyunmoo-2C missile currently under development.[28] Seoul reached a de facto deal with the U.S. in September 2017 to revise their missile development guidelines so that it can double the maximum payload of its ballistic missiles.[25] Two Hyunmoo-4 missiles were test-fired in April 2020, with one of them misfiring.[29] The Hyunmoo-4 has a range of 800 km and an increased payload of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).[30]

Hyunmoo-5

On 1 October 2024, the ROK Armed Forces unveiled the Transporter Erector Launcher for the Hyunmoo-5 surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 3,000 kilometers at the 76th anniversary Armed Forces Day ceremony. The missile itself was not unveiled, only its launch canister and vehicle were displayed.[31][32] According to data released through the South Korean National Defense Committee, the missile weighs 36 tons and has a warhead payload of 8 tons, which is the same weight as the LGM-30 Minuteman III, a 36-ton Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed in the United States, and was developed as a bunker-buster missile for striking underground shafts in the North Korean military.[33]

A non-nuclear ballistic missile equipped with an 8 ton warhead is unprecedented; other modern conventional warheads generally are less than one ton. It probably includes a heavy dense metal penetrator or tandem charges for deeply buried bunker penetration. Until the 2021 abolition of the South Korea Ballistic Missile Range Guidelines, such a missile would not have been permitted.[31]

It is thought to be powered by a two-stage solid-fuel engine, with an estimated length of about 16 m and a diameter of 1.6 m.[32] It uses a nine-axle K901 Transporter Erector Launcher vehicle produced in Kia Motors.[33] The warhead can destroy structures deeper than 100 meters below the surface, missile speed is close to Mach 10 in the descending phase.[34][better source needed]

Variants

Hyunmoo Missiles
Model Range Total weight Payload Type Notes Deployment
Hyunmoo-1 180 km - 500 kg Short-range ballistic missile modified NHK-1 Baekgom -
Hyunmoo-2A 300 km 7.3 t[35] 1,000 kg[36][37] modified 9K720 Iskander[18][19] 2008[38]
Hyunmoo-2B 500 km - 1,000 kg[6][37] modified Hyunmoo-2A 2009[38]
Hyunmoo-2C 800 km - 500 kg modified Hyunmoo-2B 2017[39]
Hyunmoo-3A 500 km 1.36 t[40] 500 kg surface-to-surface cruise missile manufactured by LIG Nex1[41] 2006
Hyunmoo-3B 1,000 km - 500 kg modified Hyunmoo-3A 2009[38]
Hyunmoo-3C 1,500 km - 500 kg modified Hyunmoo-3B 2012
Hyunmoo-3D 3,000 km[42] - 500 kg modified Hyunmoo-3C -
Hyunmoo-4 800 km - 2,500 kg+ Short-range ballistic missile modified Hyunmoo-2C -
Hyunmoo-4.4 500 km - - submarine-launched ballistic missile modified Hyunmoo-2B -
Hyunmoo-5 3000 km[32] 36 t[32][33] 8000 kg[32][33] Intermediate-range ballistic missile high-powered bunker buster 2023[32]

Notable events

On 23 June 2017, South Korea unveiled footage of a successful missile test launch of a Hyunmoo-2C missile. Unlike its predecessor, which had a maximum range of 500 km, the Hyunmoo-2C has a maximum range of 800 km and thus is capable of hitting any part of North Korea.[43][44] South Korean President Moon Jae-in was shown to be observing the missile launch at the time.[45]

On 4 July 2017, South Korea carried out a joint ballistic missile drill with the U.S. where they launched 2 Hyunmoo-2B missiles and 2 ATACMS missiles. The drill was seen as a response to North Korea's supposed successful test launch of an ICBM.[46][47]

On 4 September 2017, South Korea President Moon Jae-In & U.S. President Trump agreed to lift the 500 kg limit on South Korea's missile warheads. This would allow South Korea to develop and deploy missiles with a warhead weighing up to 2,000 kg. This would enable South Korea to target and destroy virtually all of North Korea's underground facilities and hardened bunkers.[48]

On 6 September 2017, South Korea's MoD announced the upcoming development of a new missile dubbed the "Frankenmissile." The Hyunmoo missile variant would carry a warhead weighing up to 1,000 kg and would be used to target key North Korean sites both above and underground.[49]

On 15 September 2017, in response to a North Korean missile test, South Korea fired two Hyunmoo-2A missiles, one of which failed and fell into the East Sea.[50][51]

During U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Seoul in 2017, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to eliminate any limit on South Korean missiles.[52]

During a military parade North Korea displayed a short range ballistic missile similar in design to the Hyunmoo-2 on 8 February 2018 that is thought to have been tested in August 2017, according to South Korean military source that disclosed details of the test to the Chosun Ilbo.[53][54] Designated as KN-23 by the U.S. DoD, the missile was test fired on 4 May and 9 May 2019 where two missiles were launched in each of the tests.[55]

On 5 October 2022, a Hyunmoo-2C missile fired in response to a North Korean ICBM test malfunctioned and crashed into a golf course in Gangneung. No people were harmed by the incident.[56][57]

See also

References

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