NORTH KOREA Airforce and Air defences

[ActionJackson]

As of 2010, according to one intelligence publication, they had...

35 Mig-29 A and S
60 Mig-23
30 Mig-21
120 J-7
110 J-5
40 F-7
30 Su-25
20 Su-7
100 J-6

80 H-5

Sa-2,3,5

[jbritchford]

Of course serviceability and the competence of air and ground crews are another matter entirely.

[swerve]

One would not expect the serviceability of J-5, J-6, H-5 & Su-7 to be high, however well cared for. It must also be very difficult for their pilots to get enough flying hours to remain competent, because of airframe hours restrictions on the aircraft.

So the MiG-29 is their most advanced aircraft. What model? (Or has anyone taken time to analyze the variant yet?)

Delivered shortly before the fall of the USSR, I think, so not exactly the latest version. Definitely in service by 1993. Listed in the IISS Military Balance 1993-94, but not 1988-89. I don't have access to a copy between those years.

[TAZZ]

I have seen a rather bad pic clearly showing a "Fulcrum C" (either MiG-29 Izdelye 9.13 or MiG-29SE)

[mack8]

These maybe ? Screenshots from a clip i think
http://elhangardetj.blogspot.com/201...del-norte.html

[Wanderlei]

I found three military airfields on google earth. Sattelite pics taken in 2009.


This is Sunchon airfield.
Here are two mig 29s parked, seemingly in operational condition standing by.

Also bunch of what to me looks like broken down out of commission Mig-15 (maybe 17s), Su-25s and Mig-29s.

[Wanderlei]

Same airfield with lineup uf 13 Su-25s. They look like they are in service.

[Wanderlei]

Pukchang Airfield 2011 Google image.

about 30 Mig-23s there.

[Batman]

I have seen a rather bad pic clearly showing a "Fulcrum C" (either MiG-29 Izdelye 9.13 or MiG-29SE)

Tazz, I have seen that too, a brown-camouflaged one.
I think it was one of a very small number of attrition replacements for the earlier Fulcrum A/Bs.

[Deino]

.... but are You sure that these are Fulcrum-C's ???

Deino

[Batman]

.... but are You sure that these are Fulcrum-C's ???
Deino

OK then Deino, if you are the font...
Are you suggesting it is a "C" highback (maybe the only airframe being produced then), but with "A" avionics?

[STRATOSAURUS]

Green north korean Su-25 "46" at 00:30s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=HL7vHRy22G4

Thanks mack8 for visit my blog :diablo:

Regards from Spain.

[TAZZ]

These maybe ? Screenshots from a clip i think
http://elhangardetj.blogspot.com/201...del-norte.html

Yes, indeed. The "Humpback" is clearly visible.

[TAZZ]

Tazz, I have seen that too, a brown-camouflaged one.
I think it was one of a very small number of attrition replacements for the earlier Fulcrum A/Bs.

You may be right, regarding the attrition replacement...But this FCM C may come from outsideRussia (Belarus, Ukraine...) and constitue a new batch of more modern models.
By the way, EL HANGAR DE TJ displays to-day new pics (of bad quality, because coming from a video footage) clarly showing too Korean FULCRUM A - thoswe with a straignt dorsal spine!!!

[mack8]

Green north korean Su-25 "46" at 00:30s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=HL7vHRy22G4

Thanks mack8 for visit my blog :diablo:

Regards from Spain.

Been visiting your blog almost daily. Very good one btw

AFAIC , recently i did saw several vids on the net showing also aircraft of the DPRKAF and i saw ( other than the MiG-29s and Su-25s) a nose and some footage with J-6, some Il-28s or H-5s ,and what appears to be either a Mig-15UTI or maybe JJ-5 carrying bombs (at least i had the impression it was a twinseater) ! Guess we can't tell when that footage was actually filmed though (think the whole movie was occasioned by recent military drills , last year)

[raptor2019]

North Korea's powerful military has held a mass rally to pledge loyalty to the country's new chief Kim Jong-un, vowing to become "rifles and bombs" to protect him, official media said Tuesday.

The North also announced a rare amnesty for prisoners as the untested young leader tries to build support.

[J Boyle]

Cheery looking lot...

The two military officers appear to be propping him up...literally.

[MSphere]

Yes, indeed. The "Humpback" is clearly visible.

I confirm, the NoKo Fulcrum #415 is definitely a 9.13 type while the #553 appears to be a 9.12B.

[raptor2019]

North Korean Air Force Increases Training Flights



• North Korea’s air force has conducted more training than normal this winter despite the death of leader Kim Jong Il, a report said Jan. 24.

[mack8]

Finally , something useful from raptor2019. If you look under that J-6, it looks like it has a hardpoint added (probably one on each side)! I don't remember seeing such a feature on the "normal " J-6s (or MiG-19 for that matter) .

Now does anyone know which documentary is that screenshot coming from ?

[Deino]

[TR1]

Awesome photo Deino. That MiG-29 looks sharp!

[Fedaykin]

Cheery looking lot...

The two military officers appear to be propping him up...literally.

Actually to me it looks like they are trying to stop him running away.

More seriously it looks like he is a figure head stroke puppet and real power lies with his aunt and uncle who are both high up in the central council.

[Fedaykin]

Indeed it is a rather handsome colour scheme, rather a pity it is no match for anything fielded by the South Korean airforce. Early model Mig-29 have terrible situational awareness and short legs. Even South Koreas earliest Block 32 F16 would dominate it in combat.

[TR1]

Really, I think it is quite too much for the Sk F-5 and F-4s!

[Fedaykin]

F-5 is slippery opponent flown by a well trained pilot and give me a late model F-4 anyday over an early Mig-29 it has a far better radar and greater legs.

[TR1]

Slippery or not its awfully outmatched.
Short legs are irrelevant in the NK scenario.
I think you are buying into the 'early MIG-29 avionics were worthless!" thing a little too much. India found them clearly superior to Mirage 2000, specifically in radar. I'll take the MiG over the Phantom hands down.

Of course, in an actual scenario, none of this will matter much.

[Fedaykin]

Well I'm going on Germanys experience with the Mig29 vs F4 and Indias early years of service were hardly glowing. Get in close with a good pilot, HMS, the R73 missile and an early Mig29 is a nasty foe but you can't get around the primative nature of its avionics and radar. Its short legs and lack of situational awareness is also a given.

Going on North Koreas lack of fuel, lack of training, lack of force multipliers and obsolete tactical doctrine and I think it is totally fair to say their Mig-29 hasn't got a snowballs chance in hell of surviving a dust up with the South Korean air force.

P.S. Don't forget there is an F-5 with an F-22 kill out there...

[Levsha]

I think you are buying into the 'early MIG-29 avionics were worthless!" thing a little too much. India found them clearly superior to Mirage 2000, specifically in radar. I'll take the MiG over the Phantom hands down.

The Indians probably found the MiG-29's radar superior to the Mirage 2000 in the air-to-air mode, the MiG radar isn't all that bad, and the early Cyrano based radars on the Mirage were fairly poor (certainly compared to what you could find on an F/A-18)

The F-4E should still hold its own against a MiG-29 in BVR, thought. The Phantom carries twice the number of medium range missiles to begin with. I'm pretty certain the F-4 radar compares just as well. And then you have the backseat operator in the F-4, huge advantage...

[Phaid]

P.S. Don't forget there is an F-5 with an F-22 kill out there...

T-38, not F-5.