On March 27, 2025, North Korea publicly revealed its first airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft at the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Complex and the Detection and Electronic Warfare Research Group. During the visit, Kim Jong-un boarded and inspected a modified Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft outfitted with a radar dome, indicating its role as an AEW&C platform. The event coincided with performance tests of newly developed unmanned reconnaissance drones and suicide drones equipped with artificial intelligence. Read full defense news at this link...
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSF6rr6tU0CKr_A8j4ad6ZOI2Z0rL6o-YsAsUXihDili9VeVmq6aM5ysqmrJprEb3eKUa_rOayEczHMdFEVR9QvOK9RYztC23qUhx8sjVjmYmEw7Z8ZzgnK0zT5pQ3i8GcdZFzGt97liy6_0am2IuwNTI4CN-mE3M2KubLBO0dTNluLJQS6tkklvSI2nv/s1920/North%20Korea%20tests%20first%20IL-76%20early%20warning%20aircraft%20to%20extend%20surveillance%20over%20South%20Korean%20airspace%20925%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
The AEW&C aircraft, converted from one of three Il-76MD cargo aircraft originally operated by the national airline Air Koryo, has been under modification since October 2023 at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. (Picture source: KCNA)
The AEW&C aircraft, converted from one of three Il-76MD cargo aircraft originally operated by the national airline Air Koryo, has been under modification since October 2023 at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. (Picture source: KCNA)
