Rodong-2

The Hwasong-7} () is a single-stage, mobile liquid propellant medium-range ballistic missile developed by North Korea. Developed in the mid-1980s, it is a scaled-up adaptation of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus missiles, more commonly known by its NATO reporting name "Scud". The inventory is estimated to be around 200–300 missiles. US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center estimates that as of June 2017 fewer than 100 launchers were operationally deployed.

It influenced the design of Pakistan's Ghauri-1 missile, as well as the Iranian Shahab-3.

Overview

It is believed North Korea obtained R-17 designs from Egypt, and possibly modified designs from China, allowing them to reverse-engineer them into a larger and longer-distance weapon. United States reconnaissance satellites first detected this type in May 1990 at the Musudan-ri test launch facility, in northeastern North Korea. In the same year, North Korea began producing Hwasong-7, and eight years later, Hwasong-7 became operational.

The precise capabilities and specifications of the missile are unknown; even the fact of its production and deployment are controversial. It is a larger variant of the R-17, scaled up so its cross-sectional area is about doubled, with a diameter of and a length of .

Its aerodynamic design is stable, reducing the need for modern active stabilization systems while the missile is flying in the denser lower atmosphere. The Hwasong-7 uses the liquid propellant combination of TM-185 (20% gasoline and 80% kerosene) and AK-27I (27% and 73% ), therefore, Hwasong-7 can only be fueled when vertical, therefore it cannot be fueled before transport as is normal for modern missiles. Its range is estimated as with a payload to .

It has an estimated circular error probable (CEP) of , but it can be reduced to between and with GPS guidance. North Korea is believed to possess some 300 Hwasong-7 missiles and fewer than 50 mobile launchers.

The Hwasong-7's technology has been exported to foreign nations (such as Iran and Pakistan) in secrecy on the basis of mutual exchange of technologies, with Iran being one of the largest beneficiaries of such technology. Successful variants were tested and deployed by Iran after developing the Shahab-3 which is roughly based on Hwasong-7. Some press reports (including ''The Sunday Telegraph'', ''Jerusalem Post'', and ''Janes'') claimed that Libya signed a contract for a total of 50 Nodong systems in October 1999, with the first batch delivered in July 2000, however such rumors proved to be false when Libya voluntarily dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programs in December 2003 and invited foreign inspectors to verify the disarmament process. In that same year, US inspectors learned that Iraq attempted to buy Nodong missiles, but the North Koreans never delivered the missiles and refused to refund the $10 million down payment.

North Korea test-fired Hwasong-7 missiles in 2006 and 2014, in which North Korea fires two missiles that flew .

Although it has an estimated range of , launches in March 2014 flew only , as the missiles flew to an altitude of because of lofted trajectory. The missiles achieved a maximum speed of . U.S. and South Korean Patriot PAC-2/3 interceptors are more specialized to hit ballistic missiles up to .

On 5 September 2016, North Korea fired three missiles into the Sea of Japan, these missiles achieved about range. Initially, these missiles were believed to be Hwasong-7, however, it was later revealed that the missiles used for this launch were Hwasong-9 (Scud-ER). The United States strongly condemned the launch.

To enable interception at higher altitudes, South Korea is indigenously developing the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM), and on 8 July 2016 the U.S. agreed to deploy one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system in Seongju County, in the south of South Korea, by the end of 2017.

Variant for reconnaissance satellite testing

Hwasong-7 has a variant with white paint job for reconnaissance satellite cameras testing.

On 18 December 2022, North Korea launched two medium-range ballistic missiles from Sohae Satellite Launching Station. These missiles flew with an apogee of .

According to North Korea, the missiles were test-fired by National Aerospace Technology Administration (then National Aerospace Development Administration) for testing reconnaissance satellite cameras.

Based on photos released by North Korea, the missiles appear to be derived from Hwasong-7 (or Hwasong-9).

Operators

Current

* − Shahab-3 used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.
* − Used by the Korean People's Army Strategic Force. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), as of 2025, North Korea is possessing about 10 Hwasong-7 launchers.
* − Hatf 5 Ghauri used by the Army Strategic Forces Command.

Unconfirmed

* − Reportedly was interested in buying Nodong missiles, but photographic evidence only shows Scud-Bs or possibly Scud-Cs in use.
* − Developed a localized version of the Nodong missile. Reportedly received 50 missiles and 7 TELs from North Korea in 2000. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Syrian Arab Army doesn't operate MRBMs as of 2024

Failed bids

* − Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Baghdad placed an order for Nodong missiles and made a $10 million down payment, but North Korea never delivered the missiles.

See also

* Strategic Rocket Forces (North Korea)
* North Korean missile tests
* North Korean defense industry
* Military of North Korea

Notes

References

Bibliography

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External links

CSIS Missile Threat - No-Dong 1

CNS report North Korea's Ballistic Missile Capabilities 2006
* Center for Nonproliferation Studies
North Korea's Ballistic Missile Program
* National Threat Initiative


{{DPRK missiles

Ballistic missiles of North Korea
Medium-range ballistic missiles
Medium-range ballistic missiles of North Korea
Military equipment introduced in the 1990s