Hwasong-18

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Hwasong-18
TypeIntercontinental ballistic missile
Place of originNorth Korea
Service history
In service2023-present[1]
Used byKorean People's Army Strategic Force[a]
Production history
Produced2023–present
No. builtUnknown
Specifications
Mass55-60 tons (estimated)[3]
Length25 m (estimated)[4]
Diameter2 m (estimated)[4]
Warheadnuclear weapon, possibly MIRV[3]
Warhead weight1.25 - 1.5 t (estimated)[3]
Enginethree stage solid fuel rocket motor
140 t
Propellantsolid fuel
Operational
range
15,000 km[5]
Flight altitude6,648(?) km
Maximum speed Mach 27 (33,100 km/h; 20,600 mph; 9,190 m/s)
Launch
platform
9-axle Transporter erector launcher
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
《화성포-18》형
Hancha
Revised RomanizationHwaseongpo-18hyeong
McCune–ReischauerHwasŏngp'o-18hyŏng
lit. Mars Artillery Type 18

The Hwasong-18 (Korean: 《화성포-18》형; Hancha: 火星砲 18型; lit. Mars Artillery Type 18) is a North Korean three-stage solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is the first solid-fuelled ICBM developed by North Korea, and was first unveiled at the 8 February 2023 parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army.[6] Its maiden flight occurred on 13 April 2023.[7][8]

History[edit]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un first alluded to the development of a solid-fuel ICBM in January 2021 when it was included as part of a five-year arms development plan.[9][10] A static ground test of a large solid-propellant rocket motor was conducted on 15 December 2022 which produced a thrust of 140 metric tons of force.[11] Four 9-axle mobile launchers carrying what appeared to be solid-fuel ICBM models were showcased on the 8 February 2023 parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Korean People's Army. They were carried in canisters to fire the missiles by cold launch to eject them before first-stage ignition to protect the launcher from damage by the exhaust plume. These models were not named in the parade, but they were clearly of a different design than the previous large Pukguksong-5 solid-fueled SLBM.[4][12]

The Hwasong-18 conducted its first flight test on 13 April 2023. The first stage followed a standard trajectory optimized for reaching maximum range, but the second and third stages pulled up into a highly-lofted trajectory; this unusual flight path caused Japan to issue a missile alarm, as during the first stage burn it appeared that the missile could overfly the country. The use of solid fuel makes an ICBM launch more difficult to preempt than previous liquid-fueled missiles, as it does not require hours of fueling and is easier to conceal since it does not require as many accompanying support vehicles.[13][14] A second flight test was conducted on 23 July 2023. North Korean media reported that the missile flew to a range of 1,001.2 km at a maximum altitude of 6,648.4 km for 4,491 seconds (74.85 minutes), giving it the longest flight time and highest apogee of any North Korean ICBM flight to date. Based on these metrics, the Hwasong-18 demonstrated its potential to travel 15,000 km on an operational trajectory, enough to reach anywhere in the continental United States.[5] The third launch occurred on 18 December 2023. A third consecutive successful launch and North Korea's characterization of it as the "launching drill of an ICBM unit" likely indicated that the Hwasong-18 had become operationally deployed.[1]

The first two stages of the Hwasong-18 serve as the basis for the Hwasong-16b intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which was first tested in January 2024.[15][16]

Test launches[edit]

Attempt Date Location Pre-launch announcement Outcome Additional notes
1 13 April 2023 07:22 a.m. Pyongyang Standard Time[8] Kangdong County, Pyongyang
39°06′43″N 125°59′51″E / 39.111832°N 125.997618°E / 39.111832; 125.997618[17] 		None Success First test flight of the Hwasong-18, with an apogee of around 3000 km and a flight distance of around 1000 km.

Kim Jong Un supervised the launch.[8]

2 12 July 2023 Kangdong County, Pyongyang
39°06′43″N 125°59′51″E / 39.111832°N 125.997618°E / 39.111832; 125.997618 		None Success Second test flight of the Hwasong-18, with an apogee of 6648.4 km and a flight distance of 1001.2 km.

Kim Jong Un supervised the launch.[18][19]

3 18 December 2023 Kangdong County, Pyongyang
39°06′43″N 125°59′51″E / 39.111832°N 125.997618°E / 39.111832; 125.997618 		None Success Third test flight of Hwasong-18. Flew for 73 minutes, maximum altitude of more than 6,518.2 km, covered ~1,002.3 km ground track.[20]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Based on a report about Hwasong-17 via Yonhap, Hwasong-18 is likely to have been transferred from the Strategic Force for use by Missile General Bureau.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Third Successful Launch of North Korea’s Hwasong-18 Solid ICBM Probably Marks Operational Deployment. 38 North. 21 December 2023.
  2. ^ Kim, Jiheon; Kim, Ji-yeon (17 March 2023). "北, 화성-17형 "신뢰성 검증" 자평…지구사진 공개로 '기술과시', 전문가들 군사위성 준비 관측…'미사일총국 지휘관 참관' 운용주체 변화 시사" [North Korea, "reliability verification" with self-assessment for Hwasong-17... "technology presentation" by the earth's photo publicly] (in Korean). Yonhap. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Expert: Hwasong-18 Appears to be Multi-Warhead ICBM". KBS World. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Brief on the DPRK's 8 February 2023 Parade". Open Nuclear Network. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Vann H., Van Diepen (18 July 2023). "Second Consecutive Flight Test Success Brings North Korea's Hwasong-18 ICBM Closer to Deployment". 38 North. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  6. ^ Johnson, Jesse (9 February 2023). "North Korea unveils apparent new ICBM in nighttime military parade". The Japan Times. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  7. ^ "(5th LD) N. Korea fires intermediate- or longer-range ballistic missile toward East Sea: S. Korean military". Seoul: Yonhap. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Zwirko, Colin (14 April 2023). "North Korea says it tested 'Hwasong-18' solid-fuel ICBM for first time". NK News - North Korea News. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  9. ^ Kim, Tong-Hyung; Kim, Hyung-Jin (14 April 2023). "N. Korea says it tested new solid-fuel long-range missile". Seoul: Associated Press. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  10. ^ Vann H., Van Diepen (21 December 2022). "The Next Big Thing? North Korea Ground Tests ICBM-sized Solid Rocket Motor". 38 North. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  11. ^ Tianran, Xu (16 December 2022). "DPRK Unveils Its Solid-Propellant ICBM Motor". Open Nuclear Network. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  12. ^ Vann H., Van Diepen (15 February 2023). "North Korea's Feb. 8 Parade Highlights ICBMs and Tactical Nukes". 38 North. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  13. ^ Tianran, Xu (14 April 2023). "The DPRK's First Solid-Propellant ICBM Launch". Open Nuclear Network. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  14. ^ Vann H., Van Diepen (20 April 2023). "North Korea's New HS-18 Makes a Solid but Incremental Contribution to the ICBM Force". 38 North. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  15. ^ North Korea Tests New Solid IRBM With MaRV Payload. 38 North. 18 January 2024.
  16. ^ Second Flight of North Korea’s Solid IRBM Also Second Flight of HGV. 38 North. 5 April 2024.
  17. ^ @JosephHDempsey (April 13, 2023). "Tweeted by Joseph Dempsey" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Kim, Soo-yeon (13 July 2023). "(4th LD) N. Korea's Kim vows 'stronger' offensive with successful launch of solid-fuel ICBM". Seoul: Yonhap. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  19. ^ Choi, Soo-Hyang; Smith, Josh (2023-07-13). "North Korea says longest test launch was latest Hwasong-18 ICBM". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  20. ^ "North Korea fires ICBM after condemning U.S. 'war' moves". CNBC. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
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