MILITARY
North Korea’s hypersonic missiles
By Phil Bainbridge
January 6, 2022 - North Korea has fired a “hypersonic gliding warhead” that detached from its rocket booster and manoeuvred 120km laterally before it “precisely hit” a target 700km away, according to reports from KCNA the North Korean news agency.
Related Graphics
View More
At least 50,000 Russian military deaths in Ukraine
Israel mulls response to Iranian drone and missile attack
Ukraine’s military chief warns of worsening situation in east
DragonFire laser to take down drones
U.S. to sell missile defence upgrades to Ukraine
Support for NATO spending grows
Taiwan gearing up for annual military exercises
Drone attack on Zaporzihya nuclear plant
Havana syndrome linked to Russian intelligence unit
Japan relaxes defence export rules for new jet fighter
Who is the Jihadist group behind Moscow attack?
Russia missile strikes on Ukraine energy infrastructure
Moscow concert hall attack kills over 100 people
Russian oil refineries targeted by Ukraine’s drones
Russia moves thousands of children from border after strikes
Niger junta bans U.S. troops
Vladimir Putin wins fifth term as Russia’s president
Turkey, Iraq reach Kurdish security deal
British luxury cars are still being imported by Russia
Ukraine increases use of “kamikaze” drones
Russia expands its EU spy network
Russia risks aircraft losses for tactical gains in Ukraine
Sweden to join NATO after Hungary approves bid
Zelenskiy says 31,000 soldiers killed in Russia’s invasion
Russia’s Black Sea losses
Two years of Russia’s Ukraine war
German lawmakers to vote on long-range missiles for Ukraine
Ukraine digs in to repel new Russian attacks
Russia takes control of Avdiivka after Ukrainian troops withdraw
Ukraine on verge of losing Avdiivka
Using what appeared to be a Hwasong-12 variant rocket booster, the missile was launched from Chagang-Do by the Academy of Defence Science. The hypersonic gliding warhead detached from the booster and manoeuvred for around 120km before hitting its target.
Hypersonic missiles are designed to fly lower than conventional ballistic missiles to avoid radar detection, and travelling at more than Mach 3, change velocity and direction to evade anti-missile defences.