According to a video released by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, the country has unveiled its new indigenous supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from ground launcher vehicles, ships, and submarines to conduct land-attack or anti-ship missions.
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Print Screen video footage of new South Korean-made Supersonic Cruise Missile Launch. (Picture source South Korea MoD)
The new missile has reportedly been codenamed Hyunmoo 4-4 and could be a variant of the Hyunmoo-2B ballistic missile. The video published by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, showed has that the missile can be used against naval targets.
According to the Yonhap News Agency from South Korea, the video showcases the land-based variant of the new supersonic cruise missile, but South Korea also has successfully conducted an underwater test-launch of the homegrown SLBM (Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile) from its new 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine at the Anheung test site in the western city of Taean with President Moon Jae-in in attendance.
A supersonic missile travels faster than the speed of sound, usually using ramjet engines. The range is typically 100–500 km, but can be greater. According to military report of 2017, the new missile will have a range of 500 km and can fly at a speed of Mach 2.5 -3.
Citing "Republic of Korea Armed Forces" Facebook account, stealth features were incorporated into the missile’s wings and nose cone to reduce its radar signature. Two way datalink, GPS/INS guidance, Ku Band active radar seeker, EO/IR seeker, and ESM are said to be among the features of this missile.
Only seven countries have developed submarine-launched ballistic missiles including France, China, India, North Korea, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, and now South Korea.
