Few days back North Korea fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile on Thursday, state media KCNA reported, the latest in a recent series of weapons tests that has come as denuclearisation talks with the United States have deadlocked.
North Korea’s latest anti-aircraft missile system uses a self-propelled launcher vehicle similar to the US M1075, the launcher is similar to the S-300, but the interceptor missile resembles Israel’s David’s Sling.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, during the test of the new weapon, military experts carefully evaluated the characteristics of the missile, launcher, radar, as well as the integrated command and control system. fit.
KCNA noted that new motor and control technology was adopted. As a result, the missile’s accuracy and long range to destroy air targets are significantly increased. The experience gained in the test will be very useful in the mass production of this promising air defense system.
As noted by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the North Korean anti-aircraft missile appears to be of a two-stage type and clearly has an aerodynamic rudder in the front.
In appearance, the interceptor missile is quite similar to the missile of the David’s Sling complex. As is known, this Israeli medium-range air defense system can destroy objects at a distance of up to 300 km and perform the task of destroying ballistic and cruise missiles.
However, given the characteristics of North Korea’s target audience as well as their level of science and technology, this weapon complex is clearly designed to counter other air attack vehicles.
The Russian newspaper added: “For a long time, the backbone of the North Korean air defense force was the Soviet-made S-75, S-125 and S-200 systems.”
“In the first decade of the new century, the Korean Army officially launched a new domestic long-range air defense system called Pon’gae-5 (KN-06) that looks similar to the S-300P.”
“The first information about successful tests of this weapon appeared in the summer of 2011. At that time, Korean media predicted that its range could reach 150 km.”
“Last year, in October, at a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a modernized version of such an air defense system was demonstrated.”
“Now, the designers have reported on the creation of a fundamentally new air defense system that will significantly increase the defensive capabilities of the Korean People’s Army.”
Compared to the previously introduced KN-06 complex, it is easy to see that the new weapon has many differences, the details from the self-propelled launcher vehicle, the launch tube, and the interceptor missile are more sophisticated.
The first is a self-propelled launcher that looks quite similar to the US-made M1075 tractor, this vehicle is used as a carrying platform for many types of weapons, including the famous THAAD complex.
Missile launchers cum storage tubes are also considered to be more complete than those used on the old generation KN-06 complex, their dimensions are quite similar.
The biggest difference is, of course, in the interceptor bullet, which is a two-stage with a secondary booster that will be separated when the bullet has reached a certain height, different from the single-stage bullet of the KN-06.
However, the structure of the projectile shows that it does not carry two radar-infrared probes like David’s Sling’s Stunner missile, the technology applied is clearly still one level below.