ORIGINAL LINK : https://blog.naver.com/PostView.naver?blogId=rgm84d&logNo=223274791303
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This is the scene of the KTSSM ground-to-ground missile launch. After the successful development of the KTSSM, the Ministry of National Defense has been continuously showcasing the KTSSM-Ⅱ and KTSSM-Ⅲ, which use the same GPS-based guidance technology.
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On October 23rd, during the National Assembly’s Defense Committee’s government audit report, the Army’s power augmentation plan in the field of the Korean-style 3-axis system, including the KTSSM-Ⅲ, was revealed.
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The Army announced that after the powerization of the KTSSM, which is specialized for the destruction of underground tunnels, it will invest 270 billion won in project costs to complete the system development of the 300km-class KTSSM-Ⅱ by November 2027.
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Then, a new tactical ballistic missile project called KTSSM-Ⅲ was specified in the 2024-2028 mid-term defense plan, and since various next-generation warhead systems are being developed domestically, we conducted a comprehensive analysis through Military Review Issue 2312.
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What is the KTSSM-Ⅲ?
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Looking at the information that the Ministry of National Defense has released about the KTSSM-Ⅲ project, it was reflected in the 2024-2028 mid-term defense plan, and compared to the KTSSM-Ⅱ being mounted on the K239 Cheonmu multiple rocket launcher, the KTSSM-Ⅲ operates a larger dedicated launcher equipped with 10 wheels developed for the K-2C Hyunmoo. It was announced with a very vague expression that it will have a higher strike capability than the KTSSM-Ⅱ and that its guidance function will be further improved.
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◆ What is the goal of the KTSSM-Ⅲ?
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Fortunately, I was able to hear more details through a related person. First, the content and drawings announced by the Ministry of National Defense spokesperson to the press are not made arbitrarily, but contain as accurate information as possible within the range that does not violate security after numerous security reviews.
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What can be learned from this is that the KTSSM-Ⅲ will be larger than the existing KTSSM-Ⅱ and of course, the warhead load and range are also planned to increase.
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The official explained that in the case of the KTSSM-Ⅱ, it could not exceed the limit of 4.1m in length and 600mm in diameter due to being developed to fit the specifications of the Cheonmu multiple rocket launcher, and the Army wants a larger carrier.
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So, will the range also increase? What does it mean that the guidance function will be further improved? I analyzed it in detail.
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The above is a concept diagram of the KTSSM-Ⅱ operated through the K239 Cheonmu, and the below is a concept diagram of the KTSSM-Ⅲ using a large mobile launcher for the Hyunmoo.
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Until the development of the KTSSM-Ⅲ…
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The KTSSM-Ⅲ is a model being developed to overcome the limitations of the KTSSM-Ⅱ based on the technology of the KTSSM-Ⅱ. So, I started analyzing from the KTSSM-Ⅱ. First, the Army did not disclose the exact reason for the development of the KTSSM-Ⅱ, but it was basically to replace the ATACMS tactical ballistic missile.
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The Korean Army introduced 111 ATACMS Block Ⅰ models with a range of 165km to counter North Korea’s long-range artillery by 2000, and then introduced over 110 ATACMS Block ⅠA models with a range of 300km by 2004.
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◆ The emergence of the cluster munition prohibition law
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The ATACMS introduced domestically has M77 DPICM self-projectiles inside, and the ATACMS BlockⅠ has 664 M77 self-projectiles, which can cover a wide area with one shot.
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The Korean Army expressed satisfaction with the performance of the ATACMS and intended to operate it for at least 25 years through continuous life extension. Typically, the basic storage life of the ATACMS is 10 years, and the storage life can be extended by replacing time-sensitive parts such as lithium thermal batteries and gyro parts through life extension work.
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Unlike other weapon-selling countries, the United States is very generous to its allies and provides technical information and ASRP (Storage Ammunition Reliability Evaluation) performance results (life judgment results) for exported missiles and ammunition through the FMS (Foreign Military Sale) technical support system, TCG (Technical Coordination Group).
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Due to the US cluster munition restriction law, the life extension of the ATACMS operated by the Korean military was denied, and the KTSSM-Ⅱ project was hastily arranged to solve this problem.
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In addition, it readily provides storage ammunition life extension technology, and even when performing storage ammunition life extension in the United States, unlike other countries, it does not call for an outrageous price.
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However, an odd problem blocked the life extension of the ATACMS. Due to a new American law created in the early 2000s that bans the use and life extension of so-called cluster munitions, including DPICM self-projectiles, the life extension of the Korean military’s ATACMS was also banned.
