FuturePAF
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The North Koreans have done it. They have made a solid fueled icbm, in the same class as the Topol. Probably can cover all of the CONUS. This along with their 250 kt weapons, leaves them with only MIRV technology and decoy technology between them and a first string force.
Their extensive tunnel networks will mean this will be hard to detect.
Said to have reach an altitude of less than 3000 Km in this test and a range of 1000 Km in a lofted trajectory; that could be test most similar to the Hwasong 14 test, giving a range of close to approx. 10,000km.
Now this missile was said to not have reached its maximum range because the north was said to be testing systems, so it might be able to fly much farther in its full configuration. This missile is basically in the class as the Topol series of Russian Missiles.
North Korea also has a unit in place to specifically operate the Solid Fueled ICBMs
Image Source:
www.google.com
Details on the motor:
The first stage is said to have “high-thrust solid-fuel motor with a thrust of 140tf [metric tons]”
The reported thrust level and apparent size of the motor seen in the photographs (about 2.2 meters in diameter[3]) are consistent with the first stage of an ICBM or a long-range SLBM. (The statement does not tie the motor to a specific type of missile system.) If the new motor does provide 140 metric tons of thrust, that would be greater than the first stages of the US Minuteman III (about 102tf) and Chinese DF-31 (about 120tf) ICBMs.[4] North Korea might need more thrust if the overall structure weight and/or payload weight of a new missile system is heavier than for these foreign ICBMs.
Source:
This diameter would put it close to that of the DF-41 (2.28m) which has a range of 12,000-13,000 Km.
Considering the diameter of the first stage is 2.2 meters, it is likely this will carry MIRVs. It usually takes 4 interceptors (each interceptor cost $100 million) out of Greely or Vandenburg to reach a high probability of intercept of each warhead, the next thing to watch is how good the North Korean Penetration aids will be. Even a couple warheads and a half dozen decoys will requiring 32 interceptors against each missile. A high exchange ratio. A force of even a dozen of these missiles could make defense against them untenable at a reasonable cost.
I won’t why Clinton fumbled the negotiations with the North Koreans in the 90s. This explains what could happen in a decade if the Iran nuclear deal is not brought back.
Their extensive tunnel networks will mean this will be hard to detect.
Said to have reach an altitude of less than 3000 Km in this test and a range of 1000 Km in a lofted trajectory; that could be test most similar to the Hwasong 14 test, giving a range of close to approx. 10,000km.
Now this missile was said to not have reached its maximum range because the north was said to be testing systems, so it might be able to fly much farther in its full configuration. This missile is basically in the class as the Topol series of Russian Missiles.
North Korea also has a unit in place to specifically operate the Solid Fueled ICBMs
Image Source:
North Korea tests ‘breakthrough’ solid-fuel ICBM
The Hwasong-18 missile took off from a site close to the capital, Pyongyang, and flew for about 1,000 kilometres.
Details on the motor:
The first stage is said to have “high-thrust solid-fuel motor with a thrust of 140tf [metric tons]”
The reported thrust level and apparent size of the motor seen in the photographs (about 2.2 meters in diameter[3]) are consistent with the first stage of an ICBM or a long-range SLBM. (The statement does not tie the motor to a specific type of missile system.) If the new motor does provide 140 metric tons of thrust, that would be greater than the first stages of the US Minuteman III (about 102tf) and Chinese DF-31 (about 120tf) ICBMs.[4] North Korea might need more thrust if the overall structure weight and/or payload weight of a new missile system is heavier than for these foreign ICBMs.
Source:
The Next Big Thing? North Korea Ground Tests ICBM-sized Solid Rocket Motor - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
North Korea reportedly conducted the first static (ground) test of a large solid-propellant rocket motor on December 15. This is…
www.38north.org
This diameter would put it close to that of the DF-41 (2.28m) which has a range of 12,000-13,000 Km.
Considering the diameter of the first stage is 2.2 meters, it is likely this will carry MIRVs. It usually takes 4 interceptors (each interceptor cost $100 million) out of Greely or Vandenburg to reach a high probability of intercept of each warhead, the next thing to watch is how good the North Korean Penetration aids will be. Even a couple warheads and a half dozen decoys will requiring 32 interceptors against each missile. A high exchange ratio. A force of even a dozen of these missiles could make defense against them untenable at a reasonable cost.
I won’t why Clinton fumbled the negotiations with the North Koreans in the 90s. This explains what could happen in a decade if the Iran nuclear deal is not brought back.
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