Gabriel Dominguez, London and Sean O'Connor, Indianapolis and Neil Gibson, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 November 2016
Airbus Defence and Space imagery showing two new corvettes at Najin in North Korea. Source: CNES 2016, Distribution Airbus DS/2016
Airbus Defence and Space imagery captured on 19 September shows two of North Korea's new corvettes at the country's northeastern port of Najin in Rason. Believed to be the continuation of a programme first learned of in 2014, the hulls are approximately 77 m-long and share a similar layout, with an emphasis on modern, reduced observable design.
The primary difference is the presence of a 28 m-long helipad encompassing the aft section of the older corvette, which has been alongside at the port since as early as June 2013. The newer corvette, featuring an expanded weapon fit and present at the port since at least August 2016, eschews the helipad for additional superstructure elements and weapon fittings.
Two additional corvettes were present at various times at a port in the western city of Nampo. A helipad-equipped model was present between June 2012 and April 2014, while the newer, helipad-free design appeared in August 2014. The differing times at which the hulls were visible at Najin and Nampo suggests that there are currently two of each design.
The satellite imagery confirms an 8 November report by the NK News website, which showed photographs also taken in 2016 of the modern-style corvette at Najin featuring radar cross-section (RCS)-reducing characteristics.
According to the report, the reduced-RCS corvette spotted at Najin is equipped with a short-range surface-to-air missile system, torpedo launchers, rotary cannons, and two launchers for the Kumsong-3 anti-ship cruise missile system.
The Kumsong-3 is thought to be the North Korean designation for the Russian 3K24E Uran-E system and its 3M24E missile. The system is believed to have been exported to North Korea.
The Kumsong-3 is also referred to in the West as the KN-9, although there is some confusion regarding this designation, given that it has been used for both the Kumsong-3 and a 300 mm multiple rocket launch system.
http://www.janes.com/article/65451/new- ... es-spotted
