North Korea is developing an airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the IL-76 transport aircraft.

38 North published the respective photos.

The alleged modernization of the aircraft is taking place at Sunan International Airport, where a significant fleet of DPRK civil aviation is located.

The IL-76 itself is not part of the DPRK Air Force but is one of three aircraft of this type used by Air Koryo.

According to the media, the modernization of the aircraft started in November 2023, when the first work near the aircraft was noticed.

Satellite images from July 15, 2024, show that the aircraft is in a fenced area, and unknown equipment is near it.

In addition, in the upper part of the IL-76 fuselage, there are mounts that look like a special “pedestal” on which an antenna array is installed. In the 1970s, the USSR developed the A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft based on a similar principle.

It is currently unclear whether the modernization is being carried out with the involvement of Russian or Chinese specialists who have experience in the development and modernization of this type of aircraft.

The absence of airborne early warning and control aircraft in the DPRK Air Force has long limited the country’s ability to track its southern neighbor’s activities at sea, as well as the ability to monitor the activities of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

In addition, the aircraft will be able to participate in the DPRK’s missile tests, which have recently become more regular.

Militarnyi previously reported that the DPRK test-fired a new long-range strategic cruise missile from a submarine.

The tests were conducted to demonstrate the active development of the Korean fleet’s submarine component, which is currently capable of conducting strikes using submarines.