During the annual Defense Development-2025 exhibition in Pyongyang, North Korea showcased yet another hypersonic weapon. The missile, designated as the “Hwasong-11Ma”, is effectively a successor to the now legendary KN-23 tactical ballistic missile (based on the Russian 9M723 hypersonic missile of the 9K720M “Iskander-M” system), along with multiple new weapons systems unveiled for the first time. The missile carries a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) with control surfaces, indicating maneuverability at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (1.7 km/s or nearly 6,200 km/h). The North Korean military is using the same TEL (transporter, erector, launcher) vehicle for both the “Hwasong-11Ma” and the KN-23, as well as the same first stage of the missile.

The main difference between the two is the upper stage that now has the aforementioned HGV which separates from the booster and then flies toward its target while maneuvering at hypersonic speeds. The “Hwasong-11Ma” is just one of the latest hypersonic weapons in Pyongyang’s already impressive arsenal that also includes the longer-ranged “Hwasong-16B”. It should be noted that the Russian military is also using the KN-23, primarily as a more affordable alternative to the “Iskander-M”. The North Korean system demonstrated remarkable capabilities and is highly praised by the Russian military for its high maneuverability, enabling pinpoint precision strikes while evading advanced air and missile defense (SAM and........

© Blitz