Hwasong-6


The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile. It is derived from the Hwasong-5, itself a derivative of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. It carries the NATO reporting name Scud.

History

Work on an extended-range version of the Hwasong-5 began around 1984, and with only relatively minor modifications, a new type was produced from 1989, designated Hwasong-6. It was first tested in June 1990, and entered full-scale production the same year, or in 1991. It is likely out of production. The North Koreans would later use their acquired know-how to produce domestic copies of the Scud-B to create a larger missile, the Hwasong-7.
To increase range over its predecessor, the Hwasong-6 has its payload decreased to and the length of the rocket body extended to increase the propellant by 25%; accuracy is circular error probability. Such range is sufficient to strike targets as far away as western Japan. Its dimensions are identical to the original Hwasong-5. Due to difficulties in procuring MAZ-543 TELs, mobile launchers were produced in North Korea. By 1999, North Korea was estimated to have produced 600 to 1,000 Hwasong-6 missiles, of which 25 had been launched in tests, 300 to 500 had been exported, and 300 to 600 were in service with the Korean People's Army.
The Hwasong-6 is armed with a high-explosive fragmentation or cluster warhead, but it's believed that it can also carry a nuclear, chemical, or biological warhead.
Before the 2015 Houthi takeover in Yemen, the country didn't have a domestic missile program, and had only a small stockpile of Soviet-made Scud-B and North Korean Hwasong-6 missiles bought in the 1980s and 1990s. These were used against the pro-Hadi forces in the summer of that year. Since then, the Houthis have used domestically produced ballistic missiles with Iranian assistance.

Variants

Iran

  • '''Shahab-2'''

North Korea

  • '''KN-18'''

Yemen

  • '''Burkan-2'''

Export

The Hwasong-6 was exported to Iran, where it is designated as the Shahab-2, to Syria, where it is manufactured under licence with Chinese assistance and to Yemen. Myanmar also imported Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles in 2009. About 25 Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles were purchased by Vietnam from North Korea in 1997.
In 1995, Libya purchased 5 Hwasong-6 missiles from North Korea, however they were never tested or deployed, and planned local production was cancelled in 2003 with the disarmament of Libya.

Operators

Current

  • − Reportedly purchased in 1996, unconfirmed
  • − Produced locally as the Shahab-2. Status uncertain
  • − Reported
  • − 30+ Hwasong 5/6 launchers as of 2024
  • − Scud-C
  • − Scud-C

Non-state

  • − Scud-C

Former