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North Korea's new monstrous
MLRS ("Pukguksong MLRS")
and its shorter derivative (SLRS)
Norbert Brügge,
Germany
2020, March 29 -- On this
day North Korea fired a missile of its MLRS for the ninth time.
For the first time a track vehicle was used, known from the PS GLBM-1,
on which a battery of six tubes
is now mounted. |
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A photo from 2019 (left)
shows the same vehicle. A launch campaign is not known.
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2020, March
02 -- On this day North Korea fired missiles of its MLRS for the seventh
time.
2019, Nov. 28 -- On this day North Korea fired missiles of its MLRS
for the sixth time.
2019, Oct. 31 -- On this day North Korea fired missiles of its MLRS for
the fifth time.
2019, Sept. 10 -- On this day North Korea fired missiles of its MLRS for
the fourth time.
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31.10.2019
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28.11.2019
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02.03.2020
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09.03.2020
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2019, Aug. 24 -- For the first
time, North Korea presented detailed images of the new monstrous rocket of
an MLRS, firing for the third time on this day. Unlike before (Juny 31 and
Aug. 02), the launch of two missiles each from a 4-tube system (2 on 2), which
is mounted on a vehicle with 6 wheels. The 3-tube system was before mounted
on a wide tracked vehicle with 10 axles. The term "monstrous" refers to the
unusual dimensions of the missile of this MLRS (KN-25).
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What is the origin of this rockets ?
It is reported a diameter of the tubes of about 70 cm, which could
correspond to the facts. This suggests that the rocket has a diameter
of about 60 cm. Since it is unlikely that North Korea has developed a
completely new motor of this diameter, we should assume an existing solid-fuel
motor. In this case, the motor of the Russian OTR
Totchka (9M79)
offers, which is demonstrably available to North Korea. The uncertainty,
however, is whether the originaly nozzle withstands the thrust of a longer
motor. A new, more robust nozzle may be used.
The "Totchka" motor has a diameter of 62 cm. If the motor of OTR
Totchka welded use three times in a row results it in the dimension of
~ 8 m for the MLRS. The problem with bulky 6 fins was solved in the tube
elegantly.
We can see that the rocket has in the tube six round-folded fins,
fixed by brackets
The SLRS is obviously a derivative
of the MLRS and uses only the first segment.
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