"North Korea Nearly Completes Early Warning Control Aircraft... Seems Influenced by China"

Revealing North Korea's AEW&C Aircraft Progress
Triangular Radar Dome Suggests Chinese Influence

North Korea has entered the final stages of completing its airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, according to North Korea-focused media outlet 38 North on the 4th (local time).

Commercial satellite images obtained by 38 North show that a large radar dome is mounted on the fuselage of an IL-76 aircraft parked next to the maintenance hangar at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.

China's airborne early warning and control aircraft KJ-2000

The radar dome has a triangular shape. Some Chinese early warning and control aircraft are configured in a triangular layout with three phased array radars, each covering a 120-degree sector.

Regarding this, 38 North reported, "The triangular design of the radar dome is similar to what can be seen on Chinese early warning and control aircraft but is not used on American or Russian aircraft," adding, "This indicates Chinese support or influence."

The aircraft equipped with the large radar dome is one of three IL-76s previously used by North Korea's state airline, Korea Air, on cargo routes. The aircraft was moved to the maintenance hangar in October 2023, and related work on the upper fuselage began in November.