VARIANT(S) AND/OR ALTERNATE NAME(S):
---- No Dong 1 MRBM (variant)
---- Ro Dong 1 MRBM (alternate designation)
---- Scud-D MRBM (alternate designation)
---- Shahab-3 MRBM (Iranian designation)
---- No Dong 2 (Upgraded variant)
EQUIPMENT CATEGORY: Missiles/Rockets/Bombs -- Land Attack/Theater
Nuclear/Biological/Chemical -- Nuclear
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: North Korea PICTURES OF: No Dong MRBM
DESCRIPTION
The North Korean No Dong is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), also variously identified as the Ro Dong-1 and the Scud-D. Variants are also in service with Pakistan (designated Ghauri, see separate record) and Iran (designated Shahab-3). The No Dong was based on the Scud series of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM), but represents a significant departure from the North Korean practice of incremental improvements in weapons systems.
North Korea developed the No Dong by adapting technology used in the entire variety of Scud-series SRBMs. The steel tankage of the Scud-A, the improved Isayev engine from the Scud-B and the lengthened cylinder for greater fuel capacity from the Scud-C are all combined in a single design. Although p lagued by early technical and financial problems, North Korea has designed a missile that is quite capable in the MRBM role and attractive to other states as an export product.
Using a single-stage liquid-propellant rocket, the No Dong carries a conventional or chemical weapon-capable warhead. It may also be designed to carry a nuclear warhead, though the existence of such a warhead with the No Dong or its variants is unconfirmed among its users.
The engines use TM-185 fuel, which is a mixture consisting of 20 percent gasoline and 80 percent kerosene. It also uses AK-27I for an oxidizer, which consists of 27 percent dinitrogen tetroxide and 73 percent nitric acid with an iodium inhibitor.
The propellant feed system is a turbo pump driven by a bipropellant gas generator using the main propellants. The startup and shutdown valves, initiated with pyrotechnic charges, are one-shot devices. To improve accuracy, the engine is equipped with mechanical controls for correct thrust level and mixture ratio. Tank pressurization is performed by air stored in a toroidal high-pressure bottle in front of the missile's guidance section and heated by the turbine exhaust gases.
Before launch, the missile is placed on a trajectory plane that will hit its target. As a result, the missile depends on the guidance system to keep the missile on its correct plane. Three body-mounted gyros are used for attitude and lateral acceleration control. A pendulum integration gyro assembl y controls the speed. Thrust vector control is accomplished by four jet vanes.
The No Dong is launched from a specially designed cross-country transporter-erector-launcher (TEL).
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