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Revision as of 14:04, 4 April 2013
| BM25 Musudan | |
|---|---|
| File:BM25 Musudan.jpg | |
| Type | Ballistic missile, Mobile IRBM, SLBM |
| Service history | |
| In service | Tested successfully 5 Apr, 2009 (as Unha's 2nd stage) |
| Used by | North Korea, possibly Iran |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer |  North Korea |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12,000 kg |
| Length | 12 m |
| Diameter | 1.5 m |
| Warhead | Rubber ducks |
| Engine | Liquid |
| Propellant | storable |
Operational range | 3,000–4,000 km (est.)[1] |
Guidance system | Inertial |
Launch platform | MAZ-based vehicle |
| Korean name | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 무수단 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Musudan |
| McCune–Reischauer | Musutan |
The BM25 Musudan, also known under the names Taepodong X, Nodong / Rodong-B and Mirim, is a mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile developed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Musudan was first revealed to the international community in a military parade on 10 October 2010 celebrating the Korean Worker's Party's 65th anniversary, although experts believe these were mock-ups of the missile.[2][3] The Musudan resembles the shape of the Soviet Union's R-27 Zyb submarine-launched missile, but is slightly longer.[3]
Development
In the mid-1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea invited the Makeyev Design Bureau's ballistic missile designers and engineers to develop this missile, based on the R-27 Zyb.
It was decided that, as the Korean People's Army's MAZ-547A/MAZ-7916 Transporter erector launcher could carry 20 tonnes, and the R-27 Zyb was only 14.2 tonnes, the R-27 Zyb's fuel/oxidizer tank could be extended by approximately 2 metres.[3] Additionally, the warhead was reduced from a three-warhead MIRV to a single warhead.
It was estimated that, as a result of the tank extension and warhead replacement, the missile's range was approximately 3,200-4,000 km, an improvement on the R-27U's 3,000 km.[4]
The actual rocket design is a liquid fuel rocket using a hypergolic combination of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine as fuel, and inhibited red fuming nitric acid as oxidizer; this fuel/oxidizer combination does not vaporise like liquified hydrogen/oxygen gas at 35°C. As a result, once the fuel/oxidizer combination were fed into the missile, it could maintain a 'ready to launch' condition for several days, or even weeks, like the R-27 SLBM; however it could not be kept longer than this, because of tank corrosion caused by the red fuming nitric acid. A fueled Musudan would not have the structural strength to be land transported, so would have to be fueled at the launch site.[3]
It was originally believed that Musudan's rocket motors originally made up the 2nd stage of the Taepodong-2, which North Korea unsuccessfully test fired in 2006.[5] However analysis of the Unha-3 launch, believed to be based on the Taepodong-2, showed that the 2nd stage did not use the same fuel as the R-27, and is probably based on Nodong rocket technology.[3]
As of 2010, Western sources had no indication that the missile system had ever been tested, or was operational.[2]
Description and technical specifications
The North Korean R-27 copy exists in two variants—a land-based and a sea-based variant. Current deployment numbers of either variant remains unknown.
Musudan
- Launch weight: 20,654 kg
- Diameter: 1.50 m
- Total Length: 12 m
- Payload: 1,000 kg
- Warhead: single
- Maximum range: 3,000–4,000 km
- CEP: 1.3 km
- Launch platform: North Korean-produced TEL, resembling a stretched and modified MAZ-543; cargo ships or modified submarines
Operators
North Korea: According to one source, more than 200;[6] other source claims 12 deployed.[7] 16 were seen at once during the October 10, 2010 Military Parade, although experts contacted by the Washington Post believed these were mock-ups of the missile.[2]
Iran: 19, according to a leaked, classified U.S. State Department cable,[8] although Iran has never displayed the missiles causing some U.S. intelligence officials to doubt the missiles were transferred to Iran.[2]
Section 25 of this leaked cable (written before the 10 October 2010 appearance of the missile)[9] says:
Russia said that during its presentations in Moscow and its comments thus far during the current talks, the U.S. has discussed the BM-25 as an existing system. Russia questioned the basis for this assumption and asked for any facts the U.S. had to provide its existence such as launches, photos, etc. For Russia, the BM-25 is a mysterious missile. North Korea has not conducted any tests of this missile, but the U.S. has said that North Korea transferred 19 of these missiles to Iran. It is hard for Russia to follow the logic trail on this. Since Russia has not seen any evidence of this missile being developed or tested, it is hard for Russia to imagine that Iran would buy an untested system. Russia does not understand how a deal would be made for an untested missile. References to the missile's existence are more in the domain of political literature than technical fact. In short, for Russia, there is a question about the existence of this system.
See also
- National missile defense, for U.S. counter-measures
References
- ^ Bulletin Staff, Bulletin (March/April 2003). "How terrible the Taepo? (within "North Korea: Less than meets the eye")". "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists". 59 (2): 38. doi:10.2968/059002010. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); External link in|journal= - ^ a b c d John Pomfret and Walter Pincus (1 December 2010). "Experts question North Korea-Iran missile link from WikiLeaks document release". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Markus Schiller (2012). Characterizing the North Korean Nuclear Missile Threat (Report). RAND Corporation. ISBN 978-0-8330-7621-2. TR-1268-TSF. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ 13P
- ^ 2nd 3rd Right Side
- ^ http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/missiles-10132010181348.html North’s Missiles Raise Concerns, Radio Free Asia, 13 October 2010
- ^ North Korea Rolls Out Ballistic Missiles, Global Security Newswire, 13 October 2010
- ^ William J. Broad; James Glanz; David E. Sanger (28 November 2010). "Iran Fortifies Its Arsenal With the Aid of North Korea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "10STATE17263".
