Hyunmoo

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Hyunmoo (Hangul: 현무) literally means "Guardian of the Northern Sky"

Through reverse-engineering of U.S.-supplied missiles, South Korea produced two versions of a two-stage, solid-fuel SSM based on the U.S. Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile: NHK-1 (180 km/500 kg) and NHK-2 (260 km/450 kg). Nike-Hercules, the American missile deployed in South Korea, was used as a model for development. With poor foundation in industrial technologies, South Korea requested US support for related equipment and technology, but could not get the agreement of the US Department of State.

The Hyunmoo is the only ballistic missile developed by South Korea actually deployed. This missile improved the first stage propelling device that was a problem in the Paekgom. The first test-launch of the Hyunmoo was successful in 1982; following domestic twists and turns due to internal political situation of South Korea until the second test-launch in September 1985 flight test by the Defense Systems Test Center (DSTC).

In 1986, South Korea succeeded in a test-launch in the current capacity with a payload of 480 kg and a range of 180 km. The US, however, withheld the export approval of Hyunmoo in 1990, and requested South Korea to provide technical information on the Hyunmoo. It also requested a note by South Korea promising not to develop missiles with a range over 180 km. After providing the US with the guarantee correspondence, South Korea started to produce a limited number of Hyunmoo missiles and was under the inspection of the US until the production ended.

The Hyunmoo system [the name roughly translates as "guardian angel of the northern skies"], has been indigenously developed in the Agency for Defense Development and now it is in service by ROK Army

The missile is launched from the mobile launcher and fire-controlled by the battery control van. The Hyunmoo missile, which is propelled by two-stage solid rocket motor and features inertial guidance and control system, can reach the heart of its intended targets under any weather conditions without any commands from ground after fire. The missile is approximately 12m long, weighting 5ton.

A new cruise missile was recently unveiled, named Hyunmoo III, which is very similar to the American Tomahawk. The Hyunmoo IIIC has an increased range of 1500 km.

[edit] Specifications

Missile	Hyunmoo II
Length	12.53 m overall 8.18 m second stage
Diameter	0.80 m booster 0.53 m second stage
Fin span	3.50 m booster 1.88 m second stage
Mass	4850 kg at launch 2505 kg second stage
Maximum speed	Mach 3.65 (ca. 4 470 km/h)
Range	300 km
Ceiling	N/A
First stage	Hercules M42 solid-fueled rocket cluster (4x M5E1 Nike boosters) 978 kN (220,000 lbf) total
Second stage	Thiokol M30 solid-fueled rocket 44.4 kN (10,000 lbf)
Warhead conventional	T-45 HE warhead weighing 1106 lb (500 kg) and containing 600 lb (272 kg) of HBX-6 M17 blast-fragmentation