YGG-7 Hwasal

YGG-7 "Hwasal"
YGG-7G with cross-section above
Type	Medium-range, active radar homing air-to-air missile
Place of origin	Menghe
Service history
In service	2003-present
Production history
Manufacturer	Gwŏn-un
Variants	YGG-7G, YGG-7N, YGJ-7, YJG-7G, YJG-7N
Specifications
Weight	190 kg
Length	3.85 m
Diameter	200 mm
Warhead	30 kg HE fragmenting
Detonation mechanism	Radio proximity fuse (YGG-7G) Laser proximity fuse (YGG-7N)
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket motor
Wingspan	700 mm
Operational range	80-100 km (YGG-7G)
Speed	Mach 4
Guidance system	inertial guidance, terminal active radar homing
Launch platform	Daesŭngri DS-5 Daesŭngri DS-9 Songrim SR-7 Songrim SR-8 Songrim SR-12

The YGG-7 (Formal designation: 7식 공대공 유도탄 / 七式空對空誘導彈, chil-sik gongdaegong yudotan, "Type 7 air-to-air missile;" Short designation 유공공-7 Yugonggong-chil "YGG-7"), also marketed under the nickname Hwasal or "Arrow," is a medium-range active-radar-guided air-to-air missile developed in Menghe. With a range of 80 to 110 kilometers, it is a beyond-visual-range missile in the same category as the Letnian R-77 and the Glasic Black Spear.

Development

YGG-4

During the 1980s, the Democratic People's Republic of Menghe attempted to develop a long-range air-to-air missile with active radar guidance for use on the Songrim SR-7 interceptor. A missile designated YGG-4 was nominally accepted into service in 1983, but it suffered repeated failures in testing. With the active-radar seeker delayed in development, most YGG-4 airframes were produced in a semi-active radar configuration.

The limited range of the SR-7's Sapfir-23D radar further constrained the YGG-4's usefulness, and it was only produced in small numbers, with most SR-7s carrying four YGG-3 missiles for medium-range combat.

Work on the YGG-4 briefly resumed after 1988, when the lifting of the 1984 embargo allowed Menghe to import electronics more freely, but by that time the missile was deemed too large and heavy for its role. The Glasic Skybolt II and III could achieve greater ranges on a much lighter body, as could the Letnian R-77.

YGG-7 development

In 1992, Menghe acquired a license to produce an upgraded derivative of the Glasic Skybolt IA, with solid-state electronics and a slightly improved motor but only semi-active guidance. After failing to negotiate a technology transfer deal for the Skybolt II seeker, the Gwŏn-un missile design bureau began work on a domestic seeker option. Initially, this would be mounted directly onto the YGG-6 as a variant, but in order to maximize range, Gwŏn-un began simultaneous work on a new missile body with a more efficient motor.

Despite initial speculation that the seeker head was copied directly from the Skybolt II or III, Gwŏn-un claims that development proceeded independently, with some technology transfer agreements during the late stages. Five successful test firings were conducted in 2001, and by 2003 the missile had been officially accepted for service as the YGG-7. Integration with the DS-9 was immediate, as the new fighter had been designed with a datalink and supporting software; integration with the SR-8 and SR-9 did not begin until 2005, when it was folded into a new variant for each.

Description

A YGG-7 on display at the National Military Museum in Donggyŏng.

Songrim SR-8 firing a Hwasal missile.

Like many other medium-range active-radar air-to-air missiles, the YGG-7 has a two-stage guidance system. Before launch, the pilot feeds target information to the missile, using the launch plane's radar or IRST system. If the launch plane is receiving targeting information from a ground-based radar, an AEW&C platform, or another fighter, this data can also be used.

Once fired, the missile proceeds on an intercept vector toward the target's projected location, using inertial guidance to maintain its course. It receives periodic mid-course updates from the launch platform, keeping it on an intercept path as the target maneuvers.

Once the YGG-7 has closed with the target, it turns on its active radar, and continues on its intercept course until it catches the target in its effective seeker range. At this point, the built-in radar guidance takes over, autonomously guiding the missile the rest of the way to the target.

At close ranges, it is also possible for the pilot to switch on the active radar seeker before launch. In this mode, the missile immediately locks onto the selected target and pursues it autonomously from the start, allowing for fire-and-forget operation.

Surface-launched variants

Surface-launched variants of the YGG-7 are given the YDG prefix used for Menghean surface-to-air missiles, resulting in the designation YDG-7. Two variants exist. They are used predominantly by the Menghean Navy, though Menghean Army variants exist as well.

Because the missile uses active radar homing guidance, there is no need for a dedicated target illumination radar. Instead, on most land-based and sea-based YDG-7 systems, the launch platform programs an initial bearing into the missile before launch, then feeds course corrections to the missile's rear-facing datalink. Menghean sources claim that 3D air-search radars with target tracking capability, non-emitting passive radar antennas, and electro-optical sights can all provide mid-course guidance to the YDG-7 if equipped with a compatible datalink. Once the terminal active homing system activates, the missile will retain lock even if line-of-sight between the launch platform and the target is broken. In theory the YDG-7 can engage beyond-the-horizon or beyond-hilltop targets if another platform tracks the target and feeds its location to the datalink platform.

YDG-7G

YDG-7G (top) and YDG-7N (bottom) with simplified top views of their arrangement in Mark 41 VLS canisters.

The original surface-launched version of the YGG-7. It makes minimal changes to the missile itself, only adjusting its programming to support land-based datalink antennas for mid-course correction. It can be launched at an angle from an exposed rail, or vertically launched from the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System; in the latter, it is compatible with 4-meter "Menghean self-defense length" canisters, with one missile per canister. It has a minimum range of 4 kilometers when vertically launched, as the missile must adjsut its course at high speed, and a range of 35 kilometers. First entered service in 2006.

YDG-7N

An upgraded variant modified to better fit the surface-launch role. It has a small, fast-burning booster stage on the base to propel the missile out of the vertical launch array and quickly angle it toward the target with thrust vectoring. The solid-fuel rocket motor is optimized for a low-altitude, stationary-launch profile. The stabilizer fins and control surfaces are also hinged to fold flush against the missile in storage, allowing it to be quadpacked in Mark 41 VLS canisters. Because the modified motor is slightly shorter to compensate for the vertical booster, it can still fit inside 4-meter-deep self-defense cells. Range is 1.5 to 50 kilometers when launched vertically, or 0.5 to 50 kilometers when launched pointing toward the target.

YDJ-7

Development

A mock-up anti-radiation missile labeled "YDJ-7" first appeared at a Menghean defense exposition in 2006. Little information on the missile was made available, and in 2008 the consensus among analysts outside Menghe was that the YDJ-7 had been rejected in favor of the YDJ-5, which was derived from the YGG-5 Dando, and an unrelated anti-radiation missile project.

In 2011, however, a full-scale training missile labeled YDJ-7 appeared at the Sunju Airshow, along with a plaque stating that it had been accepted for service in the previous year. The missile on display exhibited a number of differences from the 2006 scale mock-up, suggesting that either the design underwent major revisions or that a competing and parallel derivative was chosen.

To conserve resources, a large number of YDJ-7 missiles produced after 2012 are assembled around YGG-7G booster units, which are being retired in favor of the longer-ranged YGG-7N. Given the large numbers in which the YGG-7 was produced, this recycling method may account for most or all YDJ-7 missiles produced after 2012. A YDJ-7N with an extended-range seeker derived from that of the YGG-7N reportedly appeared in 2017.

As with the YDG-7, the modified letter designation reflects a change in role: yudotan, daeji (missile, anti-ground).

Characteristics

The YDJ-7 is an anti-radiation missile which uses the rocket motor and control surfaces of the YGG-7G, but combines them with a new guidance module and a new warhead module. The guidance module has a broad-spectrum passive radar receiver, designed to home in on a target's radar emissions, and the warhead module consists of a high-explosive anti-tank charge surrounded by a prefragmented sleeve. This dual-purpose warhead type is common on Menghean missiles. With a direct impact to the hull or turret, the YDJ-7 can penetrate the armor with its HEAT charge, but even with a near miss it can still damage the radar antenna and exposed electronics with shrapnel.

The YDJ-7 must lock on to a radar emitter before being launched, but once released, it is fully autonomous. If the radar switches off, the missile relies on CSNS and inertial guidance units retained from the YGG-7 to maintain course toward the radar's last known bearing. While the missile is in this dead reckoning mode, a laser proximity fuse around the warhead activates, in order to generate an air burst detonation at the approximate target area. This increases the shock and shrapnel radius around the impact site, partially compensating for the loss of precision when reverting to dead reckoning mode. If the target radar switches back on, the missile returns to direct impact fusing mode. As an additional precaution, the seeker has a home-on-jam capability, allowing it to continue homing on a radar with jamming capability or at least hit a separate jamming station in the targeted missile battery.

Because its trajectory always carries it into low-altitude air, and because its warhead and guidance unit are heavier, the YDJ-7 has slightly less range than the YGG-7N from which it is derived: 60 kilometers, as opposed to 80-100. While still outranging all SHORAD-category missile and gun systems, this range is inadequate for dealing with many modern High to Medium Air Defense systems, such as Aster 30 and the S-300 missile system. During the Innominadan Crisis, Menghean Army Aviation used the YDJ-44 to knock out long-range search and guidance radar sites in dedicated radar suppression missions, while strike aircraft in follow-up attacks carried YDJ-7 missiles to defend against pop-up threats and clear out SHORAD weapons; this strategy proved highly effective at disabling Innominada's air defense network, and likely remains standard today, with the YDJ-81 replacing the YDJ-44.

Variants

YGG-7G

Initial service variant introduced in 2003. Range of 80-100 km.

YGG-7N

Upgrade with an improved seeker featuring longer range, a wider search "basket," and higher off-boresight targeting in close-range launches. Introduced in 2012.

YGG-7D

Variant of the YGG-7N with the folding fins of the YDG-7N. Intended for use on the Songrim SR-12 stealth fighter, and conformal missile pods of later Songrim SR-8 variants.

YDJ-7

Anti-radiation missile based on the YGG-7G.

YDG-7G

Surface-to-air missile based on the YGG-7G. Mainly marketed for export. Due to increased drag at low altitudes and the stationary launch vehicle, range is reduced to 35 kilometers.

YDG-7N

Improved surface-to-air version with a new rocket motor optimized for stationary launch and low-level flight, resulting in a longer range. Mainly marketed for export.

Operators

• Argentstan
• Dzhungestan
• Republic of Innominada
• Menghe
• Polvokia

See also

• List of Menghean missiles