According to the site Defenseworld.net, the Japanese Anti-Missile Defense, made up of radar systems on the Japanese coast and the Aegis systems equipping the Kongo class destroyers and derivatives, were unable to follow the latest tests of the short-range ballistic missile KN-23 launched from North Korea. Indeed, the missile, which uses a semi-ballistic trajectory like the Russian Iskander system, operates at an altitude of around 60 km, placing it below the engagement ceiling of anti-missile systems like the THAAD and the SM3/6. , but above anti-aircraft systems like the Patriot or the SM2. In addition, the missile can evolve during its semi-ballistic flight, making the pre-determination of its trajectory impossible by the computers of the anti-ballistic missile systems.
We had already reported this specificity of the new North Korean missile, such as that of the Russian Iskander missiles, or the Iranian Fateh 110, allowing these systems to take advantage of the limitations of current anti-missile systems. But if the limitations of the missiles were known, this is the first time that a limitation of the detection systems has appeared, in particular the Aegis system, which Japan acquired at great expense to equip its 8 Kongo, Atago and Maya class destroyers. , equipped with the very expensive AN-SPY1-D radar and SM3 and SM6 missiles, which also equip the Ticonderoga cruisers and the American Arleigh Burkes destroyers, the Australian Hobarts, the Norwegian Fridjofts, the Spanish Alvaro de Basan and the Sejong the great south -Korean.
However, this type of trajectory is not new. Indeed, in 1991, the new French tactical ballistic missile Hades, intended to replace the Pluton missiles, already adopted this flight profile, with the aim of thwarting the S300 anti-missile defenses in service with the Soviet forces. The disappearance of the Warsaw Pact and then of the Soviet Union led to the withdrawal of the Hades from service in 1997, which, however, had a significant lead in the field of short-range ballistic weapons.
In fact, the new North Korean missile, whose range allows it to reach Japanese coasts, now represents a real threat against the country, until now confident in its anti-missile shield, facing North Korea all the way. less. Long considered a weapon from another time, the tactical ballistic missile has evolved to thwart anti-ballistic systems, and is now establishing itself as a formidably effective, and relatively inexpensive, first-line weapon, putting it within the reach of many budgets. In this area, French expertise is unique in Europe, and deserves to be updated to equip European Defense with similar systems, to strengthen the continent's overall deterrence.
