Результати застосування методу скануючої електронної мікроскопії при дослідженні металевих фрагментів оперативно-тактичної ракети КН-23 виробництва Північної Кореї

Abstract

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the fragments of the KH-23 operational-tactical missile (Hwasong-11GA), produced in North Korea, using the method of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. The main goal of the work was to study the chemical composition of the materials of the missile structures in order to create an information base that can be used for the identification of such missiles and the development of effective countermeasures algorithms.

The chemical composition of the outer part of the solid fuel engine nozzle, the aluminum structure between the fuel tank and the warhead, as well as the body of the fuel tank and gas-dynamic rudders was analyzed. It was found that the materials of the rocket fragments include low-alloy steels (such as 15KhM, 12KhMF, 16HNM), aluminum alloys (AMg6) and tungsten alloys that were widely used in production during the Soviet era. This indicates a lack of innovation in the development of materials, which causes the relatively low tactical and technical characteristics of the missile.

Special attention is paid to the comparison of the KN-23 missile with the russian 9M723 (Iskander-M) missile, with which it has a visual similarity, but differs significantly in structural details, in particular in the area of gas-dynamic rudders. The KN-23 missile uses a quasi-ballistic trajectory, which allows it to avoid radar detection, but its accuracy remains low, making it effective for hitting large targets.

The results of this research can be used for the development of systems for countering similar missiles, as well as for optimizing the production of similar missile systems based on the obtained data on the chemical composition of materials.