South Korea is trying to double the range of its K239 rocket launcher

SEOUL — South Korea has revealed efforts to increase the firing range of its K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher , from 85 kilometers (53 miles) to more than 200 kilometers (124 miles).

The Agency for Defense Development announced its research and development project at a seminar last month, a key part of which is the application of ducted rocket propulsion technology. The agency is now looking at adding an air inlet to the K239′s rockets to enable longer combustion time.

Ducted rockets absorb external air and combine it with a gas generator for combustion, thus producing thrust and a longer range. (The MBDA-made Meteor is one example of a rocket that uses ducted technology.)

Combustion efficiency is further improved with the addition of a valve that controls the flow of gas for maneuvering.

The longer range is meant to serve as a countermeasure to North Korea’s multiple rocket launchers, which can target bases 150-200 kilometers away.

South Korea’s missile force has more than 600 Hyunmoo-2 short-range ballistic missiles with a range of 300-800 kilometers; 400 Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles with a range of 500-1,500 kilometers; and the newly developed Hyunmoo 4-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile. However, the Army lacks a transporter erector launcher, which would help it strike North Korean military targets in the event of a conflict.

The Agency for Defense Development anticipates the longer-range K239 to help the Army offset its insufficient missile arsenal. For example, if the agency’s efforts are successful, the K239 MLR could simultaneously attack 12 enemy targets, providing a long-range strike capability and allowing the military to use its ballistic missiles for high-value targets instead.

Daehan Lee was a South Korea correspondent for Defense News. He had previously worked at the U.S. and Belgian embassies in Seoul, for the People Power Party, and for election camps. He also served as a translator for the South Korean Navy. His interests include Asia-Pacific security, defense acquisition, South Korean politics and foreign policy.

首尔——韩国透露，正在努力将其 K239 天武多管火箭炮的射程从 85 公里（53 英里）提高到 200 公里（124 英里）以上。

美国国防发展局上个月在一次研讨会上宣布了其研发项目，该项目的一个关键部分是应用涵道式火箭推进技术。该机构目前正在研究为K239火箭增加进气口，以延长燃烧时间。

涵道式火箭吸收外部空气，并将其与燃气发生器混合燃烧，从而产生推力并增加射程。（MBDA公司制造的“流星”火箭就是采用涵道式技术的火箭的一个例子。）

通过增加一个控制气体流量以进行操控的阀门，燃烧效率得到了进一步提高。

射程更远是为了对抗朝鲜的多管火箭炮，朝鲜的多管火箭炮可以瞄准 150-200 公里外的基地。

韩国导弹部队拥有600多枚射程300-800公里的玄武-2型短程弹道导弹；400枚射程500-1500公里的玄武-3型巡航导弹；以及新研制的玄武-4-4型潜射弹道导弹。然而，韩国陆军缺乏运输起竖发射车，这在发生冲突时对其打击朝鲜军事目标至关重要。

美国国防发展局预计，远程K239导弹将有助于陆军弥补其导弹库的不足。例如，如果该机构的努力取得成功，K239 MLR导弹可以同时攻击12个敌方目标，提供远程打击能力，从而使军方能够将弹道导弹用于打击高价值目标。

李大汉曾任《防务新闻》驻韩国记者。此前，他曾在美国和比利时驻首尔大使馆、国民力量党以及多个选举营地工作。他还曾担任韩国海军的翻译。他的研究领域包括亚太安全、国防采购、韩国政治和外交政策。