North Korea unveils new spy plane to bolster air defense
North Korea has developed its own airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Based on the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 Candid transport aircraft, this aircraft is currently undergoing air tests. Recently, Kim Jong Un conducted an inspection during a visit to Pyongyang’s international airport, and North Korean media published the first photos of the aircraft.
North Korea officially unveiled its AEW&C aircraft alongside an upgraded version of the unmanned aerial system Saetbyol-4. Previously, photos of these machines were only available through satellite images.
Koreans introduce their own warning and control aircraft
The War Zone highlights that the North Korean AEW&C, modeled on the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 Candid transport aircraft, resembles the Russian A-50 Mainstay—often referred to as the "eyes and ears" of Putin’s army. It also shows similarities to the Chinese early warning aircraft KJ-2000 Mainring. These machines share features, particularly the distinctive radar dome mounted on the fuselage.
Experts suggest potential cooperation or technological support from China or Russia during the aircraft's development. Notably, work on adapting the Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, one of the three previously used by North Korean airline Air Koryo on cargo routes, began in fall 2023 at facilities near Pyongyang-Sunan airport. North Korea has not disclosed the precise technical parameters of the aircraft.
38 North, a service focusing on North Korean topics, reports that work on the AEW&C aircraft continued throughout 2024. In November 2024, the aircraft—still without radar cover—was relocated to another hangar at Pyongyang-Sunan airport. It remained there until the end of February 2025, when it appeared outside the hangar with the radar cover installed, as seen in satellite images.
Introducing this aircraft into service would significantly enhance North Korea's capabilities in monitoring airspace and detecting and tracking aerial and maritime targets. The country’s current radar systems are limited to ground-based units, whose effectiveness is hampered by the mountainous terrain of the Korean Peninsula. This development represents a significant step in modernizing North Korea's air forces, which have relied on outdated technology for years.
For North Korea, questions remain not only about the number of early warning and control aircraft but also about their operational effectiveness. This is due to the lack of detailed information on the aircraft's capabilities or technical specifications.
