Pyongyang: North Korea on Thursday unveiled what appears to be an airborne early warning and control aircraft for the first time, while leader Kim Jong-un supervised tests of "suicide attack drones" equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photos of the aircraft and reported on Kim's supervision of drone performance tests on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kim Jong-un oversaw these evaluations while guiding defense science research projects at the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex and the detective electronic warfare research group. Photographs released by KCNA depicted Kim instructing military officials inside the newly disclosed airborne early warning and control aircraft, which resembles the Peace Eye model operated by the South Korean Air Force and manufactured by Boeing.
An airborne early warning system is designed to detect aircraft and vessels using radar, essentially serving as "eyes in the sky." The KCNA also released images of the AI-powered suicide drone tests, showcasing the drones successfully hitting ground targets, including a tank.
During the inspection, Kim Jong-un emphasized the importance of prioritizing unmanned equipment and AI fields, asserting that it is essential to align the state's long-term plan for the rapid development of these technologies with modern warfare trends. The KCNA report highlighted the tests' demonstration of the striking capability of suicide drones for various tactical attack missions.
The surveillance aircraft unveiled appears to be Russia's Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter, equipped with a radome-a weatherproof enclosure protecting radar antennas and concealing electronic equipment. Radars mounted on such airborne early warning and control aircraft are more extensive and efficient in detecting enemy activities over a broader range compared to other military jets.
North Korea's state media only published photos of the aircraft without referencing it in written reports, possibly because it was not developed indigenously but likely with foreign assistance. North Korea is actively working to enhance its reconnaissance capabilities by advancing reconnaissance satellites and drones, areas where it is currently behind South Korea and its ally, the United States.
Kim had previously overseen tests of suicide attack drones in August and November of the previous year, linking the emphasis on drone technology to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, where drones play a significant role. North Korean troops are believed to be gaining combat experience from the conflict, having reportedly deployed thousands of troops in support of the Russian side.
Additionally, KCNA reported that Kim expressed satisfaction with the "new electronic jamming and attack weapon systems" under production, quoting him as saying that the stages of modernizing the army are being "qualitatively attained." Kim outlined the scientific and practical paths to accelerate the "qualitative and quantitative" transformation in the development and production of unmanned weapons and equipment, although specifics were not disclosed.