The North Korean Air Force recently conducted an aerial exercise to demonstrate the capabilities of its combat aviation, with training involving its MiG-29 and MiG-23 fighters, as well as its Su-25 attack aircraft. The drills were reviewed by the leader of the North Korean regime, Kim Jong-un, who also received a report on the progress in the development and manufacturing of indigenous systems.
According to North Korean media, part of the operations took place at the Air Regiment of the 1st Division of the Air Force of the Korean People’s Army Guard, a unit visited by Kim Jong-un. While the MiG-29 and MiG-23 fighters and Su-25 attack aircraft conducted aerial combat and air defense training exercises, the regime leader received a briefing from the Central Committee of the Party on the development of advanced air defense and next-generation airstrike weapon systems.
Thanks to images and videos released by North Korea, the deployment of the very old MiG-23ML fighter-bombers could once again be seen, operating alongside Su-25K attack aircraft and MiG-29B/S interceptor fighters. The activities included the launch of air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. In both cases, it is speculated that locally developed systems were used, as seen in the footage.
The North Korean Air Force exercise appears to have been a large-scale training operation involving aviation, surface-to-air missile units, and electronic warfare forces in defense missions, conducted in a simulated environment of a massive drone and cruise missile attack. In the case of the MiG-29s, the launch of an unknown variant of an air-to-air missile was recorded, possibly of local development.
Light MD 500 helicopters also took part in the exercise and appear to have been used as part of an anti-drone defense system, partly demonstrating how North Korea is also applying some of the doctrines being observed in the war in Ukraine. One image shows an unmanned aerial vehicle with a configuration similar to that of a loitering munition.
The North Korean Air Force also showcased its Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 reconnaissance and attack drones, which at first glance appear to be copies of the American RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper models.
Images: North Korean Ministry of Defense
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