What are North
Korea's "Iskander" like missiles really
It are extended single-stage variants
of the "Pukguksong-1", here as GLBM-2
Norbert
Brügge, Germany
2023, March
15 -- Launch
from transporter
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2022, January 05 -- Another lauch from train
2021, September 15 -- North Korea presents the missile system as
a variant that can be launched from a train.
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2020, August 10
-- A year later: The same missile system on the parade. The transporter
corresponds to the type that was first used in July 2019 and is not identical
to that of May 2019 (!)
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2019, August 05
-- A fourth launch campaign of "PS GLBM-2" has now been documented
by North Korea with images. The impact of the projectile was about 460 km
from the launch site. About the maximum range of the rocket may be further
speculated. All informations to altitudes and distances should note with skepticism.
2019, July 25 -- Another double start of the
"PS GLBM-2" (serial numbers 005/006). Supposedly one of the missiles should
have flown 600 km.
2019, May 09 -- North Korea has launched two more missiles
of the same type at short intervals. "Similar to the May 04 reportedly
420-kilometer flight, those launch events resulted in 500- and 550-kilometer
missile flights over the peninsula with a splashdown in the East Sea (nknews.org)."
This reported range is compare with Pukguksong-1.
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry repeated that more
analysis is required to determine if the missiles North Korea test-fired
this month were ballistic missiles or not, stressing that Seoul
and Washington have been working hard to figure that out. While experts
say Pyongyang appeared to test-fire its version of Russia's ground-to-ground
short-range ballistic Iskander missile both on May 4 and May 9, the
allies have said that analysis is underway to figure out exactly what
type of weapons were launched. "To clarify, we are looking into details.
We don't provide briefings on issues that the allies are working on,"
a ministry official told reporters.
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2019, May 04 -- North Korean
state media outlet KCNA announced the testing of an unnamed new tactical
weapon, which reportedly had a "peculiar mode of guiding flight" and deployed
"a powerful warhead".
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Analysis:
This missile (western code:
KN-23) is NOT
a Russian Iskander or Iskander clone as permanently be reported by
analysts or in the medias. It seems only like that.
This is sooner a single-stage missile with 1.1m diameter, developed
on base a Pukguksong-1 SLBM. Similar specimens were shown for the
first time at the parade in February 2018.
The
size difference to the Iskander and other Iskander-like missiles is
striking.
With a diameter of 1.1 m, a length of about 8.70 m is achieved (Iskander
is 7.28 m long and has a body diameter of 0.91 m). The motor is
clear not Iskander-like. Probably we have a Pukguksong-1 first stage
motor, extended by one segment, and changed nozzle.
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If - contrary
to my analysis - it is an Iskander clone (~0.90 m diameter),
then it is NOT an Iskander-motor; the differences are significant
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We see two different trucks: A four-axle truck on tires
and a truck that seems to match the Pukguksong-2 tracked vehicle with
probably ten axles and new cabin.
I analyzed the dimensions of both vehicles. The chassis width is identical
of 3.0 m, and the usable width of the cargo bay as well. This is enough
to load two missiles with 1.1 m diameter. The axis of the two rockets
is turned so that including the four fins a room of 1.3 m is needed.
The length of both cargo bay is also identical and is 10.4 m (The cargo
bay of the Iskander truck is only 8.4m). Based on my measurements,
the diameter of 1.1 m the missile (like Pukguksong-1) could be
confirmed.
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Has Joseph Dempsey on base the published
photos proven a dual launch on May 04 ?
The vehicle in the photo above looks
problematic
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!!
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The long cable duct is puzzling; the motor is clearly
visible
(Regarding the cable duct, it could be that in other pictures it is not
visible because the perspective)
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Serial number 003
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PS
GLBM-2: Nozzle and jet vanes were changed
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First presentation in February 2018
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Probably a test rocket launch of PS GLBM-2
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