Loitering munitions from North Korea
Kim Jong-un gets acquainted with new UAVs
North Korea is actively developing its own unmanned aerial vehicles aviation systems of different classes and recently took up the topic of loitering ammunition. The other day they showed two new kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles, with which they are going to hit ground targets. Judging by the appearance of these products, North Korean industry was guided by foreign samples.
Under personal control
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), on August 24, the leader of the DPRK, Comrade Kim Jong-un, accompanied by senior officials from the country's leadership, visited one of the training grounds. There he was shown new developments in the field of unmanned aircraft, namely loitering munitions.
A mini-exhibition of technology was organized by the Research Institute drones The National Defense Academy is the main developer of UAVs in the DPRK. Two new models of loitering munitions were presented at the site.
The country's leadership got acquainted with the exhibition samples and then observed their use at the test site. It is reported that loitering munitions flew along specified routes, searched for designated targets and successfully hit them. One of the devices successfully attacked a small stationary target, and the second hit the model for clarity tank.
Having familiarized himself with the new developments, Kim Jong-un noted their high characteristics and ordered to complete the tests as soon as possible and begin supplying such equipment to the army.
The DPRK leader also touched upon the topic of unmanned vehicles in general. He emphasized the great importance of such systems for modern armies and expressed a desire to accelerate the development of new projects of all major classes. The Korean People's Army needs unmanned aerial vehicles for various purposes, kamikaze boats and other similar systems.
KCNA illustrated the article about Kim Jong-un's visit to the training ground with several photographs. They show new samples of loitering ammunition at the exhibition, the launch of prototypes and the destruction of targets at the training ground.
For reasons of secrecy, KCNA did not disclose the appearance of the new loitering munitions. In the published photographs, these products are retouched, and their names, tactical and technical characteristics and other features are not published. However, the published images allow us to roughly understand what the new UAVs/BBs look like and how they work.
Korean "Lancet"
The first of the new BB/UAVs looks and in its architecture resembles Russian products of the Lancet series and similar foreign developments.
Launching loitering ammunition with X-shaped planes
This is an aircraft with an elongated fuselage and two X-shaped planes. In the nose of the product, despite the censorship, you can see an optical-electronic station. The power plant is an electric motor with a pusher propeller.
The dimensions of the UAV are unknown, but its length can be estimated at approximately 2 m, and the span of the main wing is 1,5 m. The mass is tens of kilograms.
According to KCNA, during the demonstration tests, the drone flew along a pre-programmed route, after which it detected and hit a target. This indicates the use of a combined control system. The flight to the target area is carried out using navigation devices of an unknown type, after which the EOS begins to operate. Whether the operator is involved in the target search and targeting process is unknown.
Taking into account foreign experience and foreign developments, it can be assumed that the Korean BB is equipped with a warhead weighing several kilograms. This can be a high-explosive fragmentation charge to hit a wide range of targets. It is worth paying attention to the fact that during testing the UAV attacked a tank. This may indicate the use of a cumulative warhead.
Target hit
Flight performance characteristics were not disclosed. However, foreign UAVs of a similar design demonstrate a flight speed of at least 150-200 km/h and can attack targets at a distance of tens of kilometers from the launch site.
The Korean loitering munition is launched from a tubular transport and launch container. The UAV is located in a TPK with folded planes and is thrown outward by a starting powder charge. Then its own engine turns on and the flight begins.
Israeli ideas
The second UAV has a different design, but its appearance also brings to mind the existing foreign model. When developing this product, the UAV Research Institute was probably guided by the Israeli Harop product.
Like the Harop, the Korean UAV is built according to the “duck” design. On the nose of its fuselage there is a trapezoidal front horizontal tail, behind which there is a delta wing with a broken leading edge. The vertical tail consists of two keels in the tail. In the center of the airframe there is a pair of small vertical planes.
The “Duck” from the Research Institute of Drones is equipped with a nose power unit and an electric power plant in the tail section. It is possible that both new UAVs/BBs use the same engines and camera package.
Start with a guide
In terms of size, this UAV is almost no different from the Korean Lancet, but the aerodynamic design allows for a significant increase in take-off weight and payload. At the same time, the mass of the UAV remains at the level of tens of kilograms, and it is equipped with a relatively light warhead.
It can be assumed that the two drones are also unified in terms of control systems. During testing, the product flew along a given route using a “duck” design, then detected a target at the training ground and attacked it. This requires navigation aids and, optionally, direct operator control.
The delta wing of the UAV/BB is not foldable, so take-off is carried out with a guide. The impulse for lifting and initial acceleration is provided by a solid fuel accelerator, which is reset after the fuel is exhausted.
A new direction
The DPRK, following the example of developed countries, began developing its own unmanned aerial systems of various classes quite a long time ago. First, light, medium and heavy UAVs designed for reconnaissance and strikes were created and attracted attention. Now Korean industry has begun to develop another important area.
The two UAVs recently presented to the head of state appear to be the first loitering munitions developed by North Korea. This indicates that the DPRK is really mastering a promising area and is ready to show its first successes.
Accurately hitting the target
The novelty of the topic explains the similarity of North Korean UAVs with foreign models. Lacking sufficient experience in creating such equipment, the Research Institute of UAVs turned to foreign ideas and solutions.
At the same time, we can speak with confidence only about the external similarity with foreign UAVs and some general architectural solutions. The two Korean products must differ from their foreign counterparts in the composition of on-board equipment, component base, production nuances, etc. There should also be a noticeable difference in tactical and technical characteristics.
Unfortunately, the closed nature of the two projects does not allow us to fully compare the new warheads/UAVs from the DPRK with foreign equipment, incl. with a similar Russian model. And we can hardly expect that the North Korean industry or army will share the most interesting information in the near future.
Great future
The DPRK is striving to create a powerful and effective army, equipped with all the necessary systems and weapons. To achieve this, the North Korean defense industry is developing various types of weapons and equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles.
As it became known, the DPRK is now working in the field of loitering munitions. Such systems have great potential and are already being successfully used in practice. The Korean People's Army strives to follow current trends and orders similar systems for its needs. At the moment, two UAVs/BBs have already been developed, and new models are expected to appear in the future. It is very likely that new developments of this kind will no longer be similar to foreign models.
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