North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

 

After Russia, China, and India, North Korea has emerged as the fourth nation to equip the Il-76 aircraft with an aerial surveillance system.

North Korea is rapidly advancing its military capabilities. Recent footage has verified that the nation possesses at least one airborne surveillance system and is also developing drones with AI technology designed for kamikaze missions.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has showcased the country’s airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft along with its nascent AI-driven suicide drones.

The AEW&C capability allows North Korea to extend its radar reach, enabling the detection of enemy aircraft or missile threats well in advance. This advancement could hold strategic importance should tensions escalate with the United States or South Korea.

Recent announcements from North Korea’s state media indicate that Kim Jong Un has been observing the operational setup of the nation’s airborne radar system, which serves as a key enhancement for a contemporary air force.

The state media depicted the DPRK leader examining the aircraft that has not yet been officially named. In the footage, Kim Jong Un is seen exploring the internal features of the aircraft. With this development, North Korea becomes the fourth nation to operate radar systems based on the Il-76 model. Russia, the designer of the Il-76-based AWACS, manages the A-50 Mainstay, with an upgraded version known as the A-50U.

China utilizes the KJ-2000, while India has its Il-76-based ‘Netra’ AWACS system. The North Korean aerial surveillance platform bears resemblances to both the Russian A-50 Mainstay and China’s KJ-2000 Mainring.

The visuals reveal a radome situated atop the back of the fuselage. It is likely equipped with three fixed phased array radars intended to offer comprehensive 360-degree surveillance capabilities. This North Korean version appears to sport a stable triangular structure, in contrast to the rotating radomes found on other airborne radar systems.