Hwasong-10

'Musudan' redirects here. For its namesake headland, see Musu Dan.
Hwasong-10 (Musudan)[1]
TypeBallistic missile, Mobile IRBM
Service history
In serviceSuccessful test on 22 June 2016[1]
Used byKorean People's Army Strategic Force, possibly Iran
Production history
ManufacturerNorth Korea
Specifications
Length12m
Diameter1.5m
Warhead
Warhead weight650–1,250 kg (est.)[2][3]
EngineLiquid-propellant rocket (same or derived from R-27 R-29)
PropellantHypergolic combination of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel, and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) as oxidizer[4]
Operational
range
3,000–4,000 km (est.)[2][5]
Guidance
system
Inertial guidance
Accuracy1,600 m Circular error probable[6]
Launch
platform
MAZ-based vehicle
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
《화성-10》형 (무수단)
Hancha
Revised RomanizationHwaseong-10
McCune–ReischauerHwasŏng-10

The Hwasong-10 (Korean: 《화성-10》형; Hancha: 火星 10型; lit. Mars Type 10), also known by the names BM-25 and Musudan (Korean: 무수단; Hancha: 舞水端), is a mobile intermediate-range ballistic missile developed by North Korea. Hwasong-10 was first revealed to the international community in a military parade on 10 October 2010 celebrating the Workers' Party of Korea's 65th anniversary, although experts believe these were mock-ups of the missile.[7][4] Hwasong-10 resembles the shape of the Soviet Union's R-27 Zyb submarine-launched missile, but is slightly longer.[4] It is based on the R-27, which uses a 4D10 engine propelled by unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO). These propellants are much more advanced than the kerosene compounds used in North Korea's Scuds and Nodong missiles.[6]

Since April 2016 the Hwasong-10 has been tested a number of times, with two apparent partial successes and a number of failures. The Hwasong-10 was not shown in the April 2017 and February 2018 military parades, suggesting that the design had not been deployed.[8][9]

Assuming a range of 3,200 km, the Musudan could hit any target in East Asia (including US military bases in Guam and Okinawa).[10] The North Korean inventory of the missile is less than 50 launchers.[11]

  1. ^ a b KCTV (Kim Jong Un Guides Test-fire of Ballistic Rocket Hwasong-10) - YouTube, courtesy of KCNA
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference afp-20130408 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Ракеты средней дальности КНДР | MilitaryRussia.Ru — отечественная военная техника (после 1945г.)". Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  4. ^ a b c 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.
  5. ^ http://www.nasic.af.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=F2VLcKSmCTE%3d&portalid=19 [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ a b "Musudan (BM-25) - Missile Threat". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference wp-20101201 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference diplomat-20170515 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference 38north-20180208 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/150325_Korea_Military_Balance.pdf[permanent dead link] [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat (Report). Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee. June 2017. p. 25. NASIC-1031-0985-17. Retrieved 16 July 2017.