The Hwasong-11D () is a North Korean single-stage, solid-fueled

tactical ballistic missile A tactical ballistic missile (TBM), or battlefield range ballistic missile (BRBM), is a ballistic missile designed for short-range battlefield use. Typically, range (aeronautics), range is less than . Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mo ...

. First unveiled in April 2022, Hwasong-11D is a smaller version of

Hwasong-11A The Hwasong-11A (), also known as KN-23 under the United States’s naming convention, is a North Korean single-stage, solid-fueled short-range ballistic missile. Design The Hwasong-11A bears an external resemblance to the Russian Iskander-M ...

(KN-23), with a smaller size and a shorter range. Hwasong-11D is reported to be entered mass production.

Description

Hwasong-11D is the smaller variant of Hwasong-11A, with a similar general structure. It also has the same design as

Hwasong-11B The Hwasong-11B (), also known as KN-24 under the United States’s naming convention, is a North Korean single-stage, solid-fueled tactical ballistic missile. Description The Hwasong-11B is a missile that bears an external resemblance to the ...

. It is also claimed to be the ground-based version of a

submarine-launched ballistic missile A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from Ballistic missile submarine, submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which ...

first tested on 19 October 2021, later identified as

Hwasong-11S The Hwasong-11S () is a North Korean solid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Description Hwasong-11S is the underwater-launched variant of the Hwasong-11A (KN-23). The missile is claimed to have a ground-based version that w ...

. Its range, which is estimated to be , is smaller than the operational range of Hwasong-11A and similar to the Hwasong-11 (KN-02). It is assessed that Hwasong-11D could be a counterpart to the South Korean's

KTSSM The Ure (Hangul: 우레; English: Thunder), often called KTSSM (Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile; ) is a short-range tactical surface-to-surface missile (SSM) developed through the Lightning Project () that began as a countermeasure aga ...

. The launches were accompanied with a statement, associating them with the development of

tactical nuclear weapons A tactical nuclear weapon (TNW) or non-strategic nuclear weapon (NSNW) is a nuclear weapon that is designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations, mostly with friendly forces in proximity and perhaps even on contested friendly territ ...

. Hwasong-11D follows a near-ballistic trajectory, with approximately apogee. This low apogee, combined with its short flight time and terminal maneuverability, makes it difficult for traditional

missile defense Missile defense is a system, weapon, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception, and also the destruction of attacking missiles. Conceived as a defense against nuclear weapon, nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic mi ...

systems to detect and intercept. Moreover, the missile’s improved accuracy reduces the number of missiles required to attack the target. Also, Hwasong-11D can have better survivability against missile defenses if the missile is equipped with smaller and lighter tactical nuclear warheads and retaining the Hwasong-11A's maneuverability, thus allowing it to threaten shorter range targets. Each TEL, which has three axles, can deploy up to four Hwasong-11D missiles. As a missile that was developed to "''enhance the effectiveness of tactical nuclear operation''", Hwasong-11D is claimed to be capable of carrying a payload. The payload can be a conventional, high-explosive or chemical warhead. The missile can also be armed with the

Hwasan-31 The Hwasan-31 () is a North Korean tactical nuclear warhead first unveiled in 2023. Design Based on images released by North Korea, the Hwasan-31 is estimated to be long, wide, has a mass of and a yield of 4-10 kt. History At the 8th Congres ...

tactical nuclear warhead. Assuming a weight of , it is possible that Hwasong-11D can be carried by

Korean People's Army Air Force The Korean People's Army Air Force (KPAF; ; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍空軍) is the unified military aviation force of North Korea. It is the second largest branch of the Korean People's Army comprising an estimated 110,000 members.Harbin H-5/

Ilyushin Il-28 The Ilyushin Il-28 (; NATO reporting name: Beagle) is a jet bomber of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Forces. It was the Soviet Union's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was ...

after necessary modifications. According to North Korea, Hwasong-11D was personally designed by

Kim Jong Un Kim Jong Un (born 8 January 1983 or 1984) is a North Korean politician and dictator who has served as supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) since 2012. He is the third son of Kim ...

as a "''new pivotal attack weapon''" of North Korean forces.

History

Hwasong-11D made its public debut on 16 April 2022, with a flight test. At the time of debut, the missile's official designation was unknown. Nine days later, on 25 April 2022, North Korea displayed Hwasong-11D during a military parade; however, North Korea also did not name the missile. For images, se
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Further test-fires of Hwasong-11D occurred on 2 November 2022 and on 9 March 2023. Between these test-fires, North Korea displayed Hwasong-11D during a military parade on 8 February 2023. The missile’s official name was revealed in the

KCNA The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) () is the state news agency of North Korea. The agency portrays the views of the North Korean government for both domestic and foreign consumption. It was established on December 5, 1946, and now features o ...

's report on the new Hwasan-31 nuclear warhead in late March 2023. Despite this, in its 2024 appearances, North Korea only described Hwasong-11D as "''tactical ballistic missile''" without mentioning official name directly.

List of tests

Confirmed tests

Unconfirmed tests

According to member states of the

United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...

, some of the eight ballistic missiles fired on 5 June 2022 could be the then-unnamed Hwasong-11D.

Operational usage

At least 45 Hwasong-11D TELs were visible in the

report of Kim Jong Un's inspection to an unnamed missile launcher factory on 8 and 9 January 2024. The report said that the factories had “''deployed new weapon types and equipment to the first-line large combined units and major missile units''”, suggests that Hwasong-11D is operational. On 14 May 2024, Kim Jong Un visited another unnamed factory. Around 99 Hwasong-11D TELs were visible. Three days after the inspection, North Korea test-fired a Hwasong-11D. North Korea held a ceremony to send 250 Hwasong-11D launchers to the frontline military units at the Inter-Korean border on 4 August 2024.

Notes

References

{{DPRK missiles Short-range ballistic missiles Ballistic missiles of North Korea