# Hwasong-6

The Hwasong-6 (Korean: 《화성-6》형; Hancha: 火星 6型; lit. Mars Type 6) is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile. It is derived from the Hwasong-5, itself a derivative of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. It carries the NATO reporting name Scud.

## History

Work on an extended-range version of the Hwasong-5 began around 1984, and with only relatively minor modifications, a new type was produced from 1989, designated Hwasong-6 ("Scud Mod. C" or "Scud-C"). It was first tested in June 1990, and entered full-scale production the same year, or in 1991. It is likely out of production. The North Koreans would later use their acquired know-how to produce domestic copies of the Scud-B to create a larger missile, the Hwasong-7.
To increase range over its predecessor, the Hwasong-6 has its payload decreased to 770 kg (1,700 lb) and the length of the rocket body extended to increase the propellant by 25%; accuracy is 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft) circular error probability (CEP). Such range is sufficient to strike targets as far away as western Japan. Its dimensions are identical to the original Hwasong-5. Due to difficulties in procuring MAZ-543 TELs, mobile launchers were produced in North Korea. By 1999, North Korea was estimated to have produced 600 to 1,000 Hwasong-6 missiles, of which 25 had been launched in tests, 300 to 500 had been exported, and 300 to 600 were in service with the Korean People's Army.
The Hwasong-6 is armed with a high-explosive (HE) fragmentation or cluster warhead, but it's believed that it can also carry a nuclear, chemical, or biological warhead.
Before the 2015 Houthi takeover in Yemen, the country didn't have a domestic missile program, and had only a small stockpile of Soviet-made Scud-B and North Korean Hwasong-6 missiles bought in the 1980s and 1990s. These were used against the pro-Hadi forces in the summer of that year. Since then, the Houthis have used domestically produced ballistic missiles with Iranian assistance.

## Variants
### Iran

* Shahab-2

### North Korea

* KN-18 − A variant with terminal maneuverability was tested in May 2017. U.S. intelligence referred to the upgraded missile as the KN-18. However, other sources referred to this variant as KN-21.

### Yemen

* Burkan-2

## Export

The Hwasong-6 was exported to Iran, where it is designated as the Shahab-2, to Syria, where it is manufactured under licence with Chinese assistance and to Yemen. Myanmar also imported Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles in 2009. About 25 Hwasong-6 ballistic missiles were purchased by Vietnam from North Korea in 1997. In 1995, Libya purchased 5 Hwasong-6 missiles from North Korea, however they were never tested or deployed, and planned local production was cancelled in 2003 with the disarmament of Libya.

## Operators
### Current

* Egypt − Reportedly purchased in 1996, unconfirmed
* Iran − Produced locally as the Shahab-2. Status uncertain
* Myanmar − Reported
* North Korea − 30+ Hwasong 5/6 launchers as of 2024
* Syria − Scud-C
* Vietnam − Scud-C

### Non-state

* Hezbollah − Scud-C (reported)

### Former

* Libya
* Yemen − Pre-war stocks depleted during the Yemeni civil war (2014–present). Most were converted into Burkan missiles by the Houthis