Leichang

The Leichang (Zhenian: 뇌창, literally 'Lightning Spear') is a to  developed by Zhenia's Li-Jien Dynamics, produced and deployed primarily for the Republic of Zhenia Army, but eventually the Air Force and Navy. While it could in theory carry thermonuclear weapons, it normally carries one among the selection of non-nuclear warhead, with the primary intention of delivering precision strikes against high-value or strategic rear-area targets. Compared to its predecessor, it has shown significant improvements in accuracy and interceptor invasion, with an estimated of around 6 meters for the Leichang-2 variants. Developed to complement and replace the existing Cheonchang ballistic missiles that had seen service since the end of the November Revolution, the Leichang has been nicknamed the "nemesis of ballistic missile defense" due to its high accuracy, terminal evasive maneuvers, countermeasures and multiple guidance options.

Development
Following the events of the November Revolution, the Republic of Zhenia Army seeked means to retain and improve the branch's long-range strike capabilities despite the relocation of its strategic missile assets to the Strategic Forces; the most notable of such movements were attempts to improve and replace a vast number of Changhwa that had been in service since since the Zhenian rearmament in 1551. The first of such attempts were the Cheonchang, a tactical short-range ballistic missile developed with the intention of being launched from the KRJ-81 Temuchin. While extended range variants of the Cheonchang were introduced to service, the Republic of Zhenia Army called for missiles with significantly longer range and nuclear warhead capabilities.

Due to the nature of the weapon, most of the development process remained a secret within the Ministry of Defense until the prototype of the road-mobile TEL and missile was revealed during the National Day military parades on June 4, 1588 AC. The first batch of such missiles, later dubbed the Leichang-1, subsequently went extensive testing in the Jiksan Testing Range in Shingang Province the same year; the missile was later confirmed to have been introduced to service in the Republic of Zhenia Army no later than 1591 AC, when a launch video of the Leichang-1B variants and successfully hitting the target was revealed online. At the time of introduction, the Leichang-1B is said to have a range of around 500 kilometers with a warhead weight ranging between 480 and 900 kilograms, although heavier warheads were available at the expense of range, while the was estimated at around 20 meters.

By the late 1590s, however, a significantly improved variant of the Leichang was rumored to be in the works, with further word that it would combine multiple guidance modes to significantly reduce its CEP "into the single-digit realm" along with significant increases in range. This was primarily achieved through the active implementation of a satellite navigation system provided by the Cheolian satellite network, the addition of terminal guidance suites, improvement on the engine's propulsion and slight extensions in length. The new missile, dubbed the Leichang-2, was confirmed to be in service within the Republic of Zhenia Army when live-fire footage from the Jiksan Testing Range was released to the public, during an announcement that the Ministry of Defense referred to as "yet another breakthrough in the Army's tactical strike capabilities within the battlefield". Further range extensions, as well as improvements in guidance systems and diversity of warheads, were made throughout the 1600s. In October 30, 1607, the first mid-air launch of the missile type was made from a modified RZAF ZF-21 Dragon, marking the introduction of the air-launched hypersonic Leichang-2H, while on May 26, 1608, the first submarine-launched variant of the missile, the Leichang-2S, was successfully fired from a Zhenian Taimir-class submarine in the North Zhenian Sea.

Design characteristics
Although it has never been tested with a nuclear warhead, the Leichang is capable of being equipped with a 600 kg warhead that is equivalent to around 50 kilotons of, resulting in the missile being an ideal platform for the delivery of tactical nuclear weapons against rear targets. In most cases, the Leichang is equipped with other non-nuclear warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, earth penetrator warheads nicknamed "bunker busters" by the Republic of Zhenia Army, cluster munitions aimed for large area destruction and thermobaric warheads. The warheads themselves can be adjusted according to the mission, at least among non-nuclear warheads, in a process that takes a matter of hours: missiles equipped with nuclear warheads, however, are inseparable from the missile until detonation or when the missile itself is dissected.

The missile itself, unlike its predecessors, follows a quasi-ballistic path that, which, involving a series of evasive maneuvers in the terminal phase, releasing decoys along the way and reaching its highest point far later in its flight path, in turn makes the interception of the missile much harder than its predecessors. With a more flat trajectory compared to other ballistic missiles, the missile does not leave the atmosphere altogether to minimize altitude for interception. Thrust vector control from the engines, as well as gas-dynamic and aerodynamic control surfaces allow for seamless control of the missile throughout its flight trajectory, including during its terminal phase, in which it dives towards the target in speeds up to Mach 10; prior to its terminal dive, it travels at a hypersonic speed of around Mach 6-7, with a maximum altitude of around 55 kilometers. The Leichang-1 missiles were built with a CEP of around 15-20 meters, while newer Leichang-2 missiles are estimated to have a CEP of around 5-6 meters depending on the type.

Throughout its course, the missile can be guided via multiple methods, but normally include an (INS) that is augmented with military-grade  provided by the Cheolian satellite network. With both INS and satellite guidance, the missile normally has a (CEP) of around 6-7 meters, while the CEP increases to around 40 meters when the missile is guided solely by INS. In practice, it could acquire its target via more conventional means, including data from aerial photos scanned into the computer, artillery observers and the like; for this purpose, the warhead also sports an electro-optical guidance module near its tip, which allows for self-homing capabilities and infrared-spectrum to compare its own data with provided targeting data. Its targeting information is also readily adjustable with feedback data from UAVs or nearby AEW&C aircraft. Starting from the Leichang-2A, it is also capable of directly receiving data from electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar satellites in mid-flight and can revise its course accordingly, further improving its accuracy especially against large moving targets.

Although there are also naval and air-launched variants of the missile, most Leichang missiles are launched from a eight-wheeled (TEL), which uses the eight-wheeled Jinmu Motors Tactical Vehicle-Heavy (JMTV-H) as its chassis. Each vehicle, carrying two of the missiles, is operated by a crew of three. Extensive automation has resulted in the vehicle being able to prepare to launch the missile in 4 minutes from high-readiness and around 14 minutes from being on the road. The cabin and launcher is armored to withstand direct hits from 7.62 mm rounds at 15 meters and 40 mm grenade shrapnel from roughly the same distance, while the cabin is also equipped with a CBRN filtration system in order to protect the crew in various battlefield circumstances.

Leichang-1

 * Leichang-1A: The initial variant that was introduced to service in 1591. It had a maximum range of around 450 kilometers and a CEP of around 20 meters.
 * Leichang-1B: An improvement from the Leichang-1A, introduced in 1595. It had a maximum range of around 500 kilometers with slightly reduced CEP, as well as a warhead weight ranging between 400 and 900 kilograms depending on the mission.

Leichang-2

 * Leichang-2A: A significantly improved design from the Leichang-1, the Leichang-2A retains many of the features present on later Leichang-2 missiles, including increased range, improved guidance modes, terminal guidance system and diversity of warheads. Implementing various terminal guidance modes, it has a range of around 600 km with a CEP of around 6-7 meters. Its payload weight varies, but normally rests around the 500-720 kg range.
 * Leichang-2B: A minor redesign of the Leichang-2A, the Leichang-2B has increased range at the expense of warhead weight compared to the Leichang-2A. It has a range of around 800 km with a 500 kg warhead.
 * Leichang-2H: A hypersonic air-launched variant of the missile based on the Leichang-2A, equipped with an additional booster that propels the missile in its initial boost phase and thus increases its range. Despite being based on the Leichang-2A, its range is expected to be around 850 kilometers. Being based on the ballistic missile, it is one of the first air-launched hypersonic weapons within service of the Republic of Zhenia Air Force.
 * Leichang-2S: A ship-launched ballistic missile variant based on the Leichang-2B.

Operators
 Zhenia: Republic of Zhenia Defense Forces