North Korea tests first IL-76 early warning aircraft to extend surveillance over South Korean airspace.

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.
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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. Satellite imagery from late 2023 through early 2025 tracked the progression of the project, including the construction of a fenced maintenance area, installation of structural supports, and eventual mounting of a radar dome with a distinctive triangular design—an arrangement seen on Chinese KJ-2000 aircraft, which use fixed phased array radars to achieve 360-degree coverage. The aircraft has since been observed with open engine access panels, aerodynamic strakes, and interior workstations, although the specific electronic systems onboard remain unverified.

North Korean state media did not mention the aircraft explicitly in initial textual reports, despite releasing photographs of Kim Jong-un inspecting the aircraft’s interior. The lack of external antennas typically seen on AEW&C aircraft such as the Russian A-50U or Chinese KJ-2000 has raised questions about the aircraft’s operational readiness and capabilities. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that further analysis is required, noting that the aircraft appears heavy and potentially vulnerable to interception. Officials assessed that the internal systems may be linked to Russian equipment and acknowledged that the base aircraft is a modified version already in North Korea’s possession.

The AEW&C aircraft is expected to enhance North Korea’s ability to monitor its airspace, particularly over terrain that limits the effectiveness of ground-based radar. Positioned at altitude, the aircraft could detect incoming aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones, and extend the country's situational awareness. The effectiveness of the system will depend on its integration with North Korea’s command and control infrastructure. Experts have noted that North Korea’s air force lacks the airborne datalink systems typically used for real-time communication between AEW&C platforms and fighter aircraft. The country’s most modern fighter, the MiG-29, may not be equipped for such operations, and older aircraft are unlikely to be compatible.

A large, oval-shaped, non-rotating radar dome is mounted on twin vertical struts above the rear fuselage, which is characteristic of AEW&C aircraft designed to house fixed electronically scanned array (ESA) radar systems, offering 360-degree coverage via three phased-array radar panels. (Picture source: KCNA)

Satellite imagery from September 2024 to March 2025 showed continued development of the aircraft, with the radar dome fully installed and the plane towed onto a taxiway at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. While only one AEW&C aircraft has been confirmed so far, the presence of a second Il-76MD in a nearby hangar suggests that additional conversions may be underway. If North Korea proceeds with converting all three Il-76 aircraft, it may face a reduction in its heavy transport capabilities, which are already limited. Additional acquisitions of Il-76 aircraft may be necessary if both transport and surveillance functions are to be maintained.

The AEW&C aircraft’s configuration suggests it may serve primarily in a surveillance role, collecting radar data to be relayed to ground stations. The platform could be used for routine monitoring of the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding maritime areas, especially in response to the increasing use of low-flying cruise missiles and drones. Experts have stated that at least four AEW&C aircraft would be needed to maintain continuous surveillance coverage. South Korea, by comparison, operates four E-737 Peace Eye AEW&C aircraft and plans to acquire four more.

Kim Jong-un’s inspection of the AEW&C aircraft occurred alongside the evaluation of new drone systems developed by the UAV Technology Complex. According to KCNA, a new type of strategic unmanned reconnaissance aircraft demonstrated the ability to track and monitor targets on land and at sea. AI-powered suicide drones successfully struck designated ground targets, including a tank. Kim was briefed on the performance and potential of these systems and approved plans to expand production. He stated that unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence should be top priorities in the modernization of the armed forces and called for a national long-term plan to develop these technologies in alignment with evolving warfare trends.

The cabin is configured with at least seven operator consoles arranged in two rows, facing forward toward a large central wall display, while the large wall-mounted screen at the front of the cabin probably shows a situation map. (Picture source: KCNA)

Kim also received updates from the Detection and Electronic Warfare Research Group on the development of new electronic jamming and attack systems. He noted that these systems would play a role in monitoring threats and gathering intelligence, while also disrupting enemy combat capabilities. KCNA reported that Kim expressed satisfaction with the production of electronic jamming systems and highlighted the importance of integrating unmanned military equipment into national operational planning. He stressed the need to update military doctrine and practices in response to technological advances, emphasizing a scientific and practical approach to developing unmanned systems and enhancing operational capabilities.

Independent assessments suggest the AEW&C aircraft could provide North Korea with an improved ability to detect aerial threats, particularly given the country’s existing reliance on outdated Soviet and Chinese radar systems. Terrain limitations further restrict ground-based radar performance, making an airborne system a potentially valuable supplement. However, significant uncertainties remain regarding the functionality of the radar, the extent of foreign involvement, and the integration of airborne and ground-based systems. Some analysts believe the AEW&C aircraft may have limited operational endurance and could serve more as a platform for training and experimentation. Others have raised the possibility of assistance from China or Russia, citing similarities in design and the broader context of North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Moscow.

In parallel with this program, North Korea has continued to advance other reconnaissance capabilities, including the placement of a satellite into orbit in late 2023. At the same time, South Korea’s intelligence agency has assessed that North Korea possesses sufficient fissile material to produce a double-digit number of nuclear warheads and continues to expand its nuclear and missile programs. These developments form part of a broader strategy aimed at reinforcing asymmetric capabilities in response to South Korea’s conventional military advantages. While the operational readiness of North Korea’s new AEW&C aircraft remains to be determined, its emergence adds a new dimension to the country’s efforts to modernize its military surveillance and control infrastructure. Whether the aircraft will function effectively in combat scenarios or serve primarily as a platform for gathering intelligence and building institutional knowledge remains to be seen.

North Korea’s use of the Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft began in 1993 when Air Koryo acquired three IL-76TDs for freight transport to and from China and Russia. (Picture source: KCNA)

North Korea's first AEW&C aircraft could provide the country with an improved ability to detect aerial threats, particularly given the country’s existing reliance on outdated Soviet and Chinese radar systems. (Picture source: KCNA)