North Korea Seen Assembling AWACS Aircraft: Satellite Pics

North Korea is completing the assembly of its first airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft based on the Il-76 platform, according to satellite images analyzed by the resource 38 North.

Satellite images from March 3, 2025, show that a Korean Il-76, previously observed undergoing modifications, is now equipped with a radar system. The radar has distinctive markings resembling those on Chinese Air Force AWACS aircraft, which use phased array antennas to monitor airspace across a 120-degree field of view. However, it is unclear whether the radar system was sourced from China.

The modernization of the Il-76 began in November 2023, with the first signs of work appearing near the aircraft. By July 15, 2024, satellite images captured the aircraft at Sunan Airport in a restricted area with unidentified equipment nearby. In October 2024, ground-level photographs confirmed ongoing modifications to convert the aircraft for early warning operations.

The Il-76 is not part of the North Korean Air Force but is among three aircraft of this type operated by Air Koryo. The design of the radar mounts on the fuselage is similar to the A-50 system developed in the Soviet Union during the 1970s.

North Korea’s development of an AWACS aircraft could enhance its airspace monitoring capabilities amid regional security tensions.