Hwasong-16A
North Korea hypersonic ballistic missile
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The Hwasong-16A (Korean: 《화성-16가》형; lit. 'Mars Type 16A') is presumed to be the official designation of a North Korean two-stage, solid-fueled hypersonic, intermediate-range ballistic missile first tested in January 2024.
| Hwasong-16A (presumed) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Intermediate-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | North Korea |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Korean People's Army Strategic Force |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2024 |
| Manufacturer | North Korea |
| Specifications | |
| Warhead | Maneuverable reentry vehicle |
| Engine | Two-stage, solid-fueled engine |
| Maximum speed | Tested: Mach 10 (12,300 km/h) |
Description
| Images of the Hwasong-16A | |
|---|---|
 Launch of the missile |
The Hwasong-16A is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile,[1] uses the same booster as Hwasong-16B,[2] which is based on the Hwasong-18 solid-fueled ICBM. A solid-fuel IRBM would be able to threaten U.S. military bases such as on Guam as far as 3,300 km (2,100 mi) away from North Korea, while having the same advantages of being easier to move and quicker to launch than the liquid-fueled Hwasong-12 IRBM. North Korean media also claimed the missile was equipped with a hypersonic warhead, which was similar to the conical, finned maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) payload used on the Hwasong-8's MaRV version. Such a payload would complicate ballistic missile defenses due to its lower altitude flight path keeping it below radar coverage longer and the ability to perform terminal maneuvers.[3][4][5]
Data from the January 2024 test-fire showed that the missile achieved a maximum speed of Mach 10 (12,300 km/h).[1]
History
In November 2023, North Korea announced static ground tests of solid-fueled engines for a solid-fueled IRBM.[6]
On 14 January 2024, the missile made its public debut with a flight test, however, the missile was not officially named.[7]
After the maiden flight test of Hwasong-16B in April 2024, it is speculated that if the HGV payload-equipped version of the missile is designated as Hwasong-16B, then the previous MaRV payload-equipped version can be designated as Hwasong-16A.[8][9][10] However, this designation remains unconfirmed.[11]
List of tests
| Attempt | Date (Pyongyang Standard Time) | Location | Pre-launch announcement | Outcome | Additional notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 January 2024, 2:55 p.m. | Around Pyongyang | None | Success | South Korea claimed it travelled 1,000 km (620 mi), while Japan claimed it flew at least 500 km (310 mi). According to North Korean state media, the launch was to verify the reliability of a new multi-stage, high-thrust solid-fuel engine, as well as a hypersonic warhead.
United States, Japan and South Korea condemned the launch. |
[3][12][13] |