During the Cold War, the USA and the USSR were the owners of the largest operational-tactical missiles., armed respectively MGM-52 Lance (diameter 557 mm) and «Dot» (650 mm). By now they have been replaced by the MGM-140 ATACMS (610 mm) and Iskander-M (920 mm), which is the leader in this class of weapon.
In the DPRK, they were able to create a system, surpassed the American ATACMS in size. Leader of the state Kim Jong-un on the eve of the New Year announced the mass production of an advanced type of weapon. The new rocket has a diameter 600 mm, however, it is significantly longer than the analogue from the USA. Besides, several OTPs are placed on launchers at once: on a wheeled platform - five units, on a caterpillar base with a rotary installation - six.
It is assumed, that each of these 600-mm rockets reaches the target at a distance of 300 to 400 km, that is, South Korea's critical infrastructure is within their reach. This more than compensates for the insignificant offensive potential of the DPRK Air Force.- noted in the 21AAR edition, pointing, that only at the ceremony in honor of the New Year several dozen launchers were put up.
In the process of updating their troops in the 2010s, North Korean troops acquired multi-layered rocket artillery.. In the first row are systems with a caliber 107 mm, 130 mm 122 mm, which have been mass-produced since the 1960s; in the second - heavier 240-mm and 333-mm rockets, as well as a new 300 mm ammunition; the third class is rapidly saturated with the indicated 600 mm OTP, more than which only the Russian "Iskander".
Author:Evgeny Lyushilin
