[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Military to Begin Full-Scale Production of 'Monster Missiles' Starting Next Year

Final Test Launch of Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon Next Month
Completion of Hyunmoo Series 4 and 5... First Launch Next Year

Starting next year, our military's 'monster missiles' will enter full-scale production. These missiles are considered a representative means of the Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR), one of the components of the Korean-style 3-axis system.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to a government official on the 29th, the Ministry of National Defense plans to conduct the final test launch of the Tactical Surface-to-Surface Guided Weapon (KTSSM-I) at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) Anheung Test Site on the 12th of next month. KTSSM-I was developed to destroy North Korea’s long-range artillery bases built in underground tunnels following the Yeonpyeong Island shelling in November 2010. Once the final test launch verifies its trajectory and range, mass production will begin.

The development timeline for KTSSM-II has also been accelerated, shortened from 2034 to 2030. While KTSSM-I is operated from fixed positions, KTSSM-II will be deployed from a mobile launcher (TEL) vehicle of a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). Its mobility and concealment capabilities increase the survivability of soldiers. Its range is also longer, at 300 km, double that of KTSSM-I (180 km).

The Hyunmoo missile series is also approaching mass production. On the 28th, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik stated at a briefing with defense reporters, “The tests of ultra-precision and high-power missiles were successful and will proceed according to the planned schedule.” Another official said, “The first launch of the Hyunmoo missile is scheduled for the first half of next year.”

The Hyunmoo-4 ballistic missile, unveiled at the 75th Armed Forces Day ceremony in October this year, has already been contracted for production with domestic defense companies. Hyunmoo-4 is an upgraded version of Hyunmoo-2, with ‘Hyunmoo-4-1’ known as a surface-to-surface ballistic missile, ‘Hyunmoo-4-2’ as a ship-to-surface ballistic missile, and ‘Hyunmoo-4-4’ as a submarine-launched ballistic missile. Hyunmoo-5 is known as a ‘monster missile’ with a warhead weight of 8 to 9 tons and a total weight of 36 tons. It can destroy targets such as tunnels or bunkers deeper than 100 meters underground. It is a high-weight missile designed to deliver destruction comparable to nuclear weapons in a non-nuclear context.

Once the mass production contract for Hyunmoo-5 is signed, Hanwha Aerospace’s Boeun factory will be able to produce up to about 70 units annually. The military plans to deploy up to 200 units to units such as the 1200th Battalion under the Missile Command.