North Korea indigenous aircraft

From the available reports, it can be concluded that the DPRK is running an extensive program to develop modern propulsion systems for the full range of weapons, from armored vehicles to nuclear submarines.
There is no reason to believe that this development does not include modern turbofans.
Of course, there is a possibility of considering a copy of the RD-33, a possible spy upgrade to the WS-13 or RD-33MK level, which in the new conditions can turn into direct technological assistance from Russia.
Engines are the basis and the North Koreans are obviously guided by this.
 
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An interesting finding, which although concerns the construction of an advanced North Korean frigate, can be applied to practically anything that the DPRK has been doing recently. Therefore, a big surprise in the field of aviation cannot be ruled out:
"While the drydock’s arrival at Nampho brings North Korea’s plans to deter U.S. spy flights closer to fruition, Ford cautioned that the ship’s final deployment likely isn’t imminent, pointing to its short construction period of under one year so far — far less than the 18 to 24 months it takes the more experienced Chinese navy to build such large frigates."
Source:
www.nknews.org

North Korea preparing to move large new warship in sign of advanced development | NK PRO

North Korea is preparing to move one of its large new warships for the first time since construction began last summer, satellite imagery reveals, a sign of the project’s advanced development as Pyongyang seeks to challenge the status quo on the seas around the Korean Peninsula. According to...
www.nknews.org www.nknews.org
 
In fairness, likely the ships were laid down earlier than that, just it wasn't observed. I would guesstimate 2023 (the year KJU referred to new AAW ships) or even earlier.
 
lancer21 said:
In fairness, likely the ships were laid down earlier than that, just it wasn't observed. I would guesstimate 2023 (the year KJU referred to new AAW ships) or even earlier.
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Still, NK engineers and scientists are continuing to impress with their achievements. For the nations with so little resources they managed so much.
 
Dilandu said:
Still, NK engineers and scientists are continuing to impress with their achievements. For the nations with so little resources they managed so much.
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Oh absolutely, couldn't agree more, their MIC advances especially since KJU became leader, are nothing short of astonishing. To quote a well known americanism, they are punching well above their weight.
 
Geo said:
An interesting finding, which although concerns the construction of an advanced North Korean frigate, can be applied to practically anything that the DPRK has been doing recently. Therefore, a big surprise in the field of aviation cannot be ruled out:
"While the drydock’s arrival at Nampho brings North Korea’s plans to deter U.S. spy flights closer to fruition, Ford cautioned that the ship’s final deployment likely isn’t imminent, pointing to its short construction period of under one year so far — far less than the 18 to 24 months it takes the more experienced Chinese navy to build such large frigates."
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That's actually saying she's likely to take significantly longer than 24 months to be commissioned/operational.
 
snne said:
Official reveal of the AEW:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1905019058480689574
View: https://x.com/NorthNKAAL/status/1905019058480689574?t=HNyCwNYbGsmsSt4PB78_Fg&s=19
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Noticeable details :

-Relatively "sparse" antenna farm. In Russians, Indians and Chinese example, there are more antenna. A-50I/EI for example have over 71.
-Lack of apparent APU (Auxilliary Power Unit), spotted in Chinese and Russian example. A-50 AEW and its variants have extra power generation unit located within the landing gear sponson.
-Navigator glazings from Il-76 retained.
-The "static dome" is about 12 meter or 11.9 meter in diameter height of about 2.4 m, the available aperture would be about 80% for 3 face arrangement or about 18 sqm per face.

Looks to me this is closer to Iranian Adnan but with vastly more capable radar. One curios thing is whether NK made change to the electrical generator of the airframe. Baseline Il-76 have GT-60 engine driven generator capable of generating 60 KVa or roughly 60 KW.. (yes there is power correction factor e.g 85% but everyone likes round number). Thus total power generation capability of 240 KW can be expected.

For AESA Radars typical electrical power load is 80% for the antenna and 20% is for the rest of the subsystems. Assume 100 Watt TRM and 1239 TRM per face (3 faces makes it 3717). 20% duty cycle for a commercially available L-band module will provide 20 Watt of average power. PAE for such module is about 33-35%. Thus to make that 20 Watt average power one needs about 57 Watt. 3717 TRM means the antenna consumes about 211.8 KW and total power consumption including the electronics can be about 264 KW (52.8 KW for the avionics)

Clearly there seems to be need for upgrade in electrical power generation. Or some form of compromise e.g only energize one array at a time or even using lesser power module with of course noticeable degradation in range.

KimAEWNew.png

Rough estimate using the 100 Watt assumption. Which is a legit 300 Km range in PD:90% against 2 sqm target and capability power aperture wise to track 141 targets. Halving the module power will make the range drop to 250 Km. The power consumption is drop to 106 KW for the array with total power consumption of 132 KW or about Half of what the original Il-76's power generation capacity.

Geo said:
Of course, there is a possibility of considering a copy of the RD-33, a possible spy upgrade to the WS-13 or RD-33MK level, which in the new conditions can turn into direct technological assistance from Russia.
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License produce tbh is more realistic. as Copying entails the need for an industrial chain to produce metals needed for the engine. Especially the turbine blade. Knowledge and expertise to build proper turbine seems to be "crown jewel" a country would hard to give.
 
sahureka said:
View attachment 764650
This leads me more and more to think that soon we will also see a manned jet aircraft produced in the DPRK, maybe they will start with a trainer/CAS aircraft, but I would not be surprised if they will present a light fighter with a modern low visibility design
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I think the same, I think that in the short or medium term we could see a trainer or light attack aircraft made in DPRK.
 
stealthflanker said:
One curios thing is whether NK made change to the electrical generator of the airframe. Baseline Il-76 have GT-60 engine driven generator capable of generating 60 KVa or roughly 60 KW.. (yes there is power correction factor e.g 85% but everyone likes round number). Thus total power generation capability of 240 KW can be expected.

For AESA Radars typical electrical power load is 80% for the antenna and 20% is for the rest of the subsystems. Assume 100 Watt TRM and 1239 TRM per face (3 faces makes it 3717). 20% duty cycle for a commercially available L-band module will provide 20 Watt of average power. PAE for such module is about 33-35%. Thus to make that 20 Watt average power one needs about 57 Watt. 3717 TRM means the antenna consumes about 211.8 KW and total power consumption including the electronics can be about 264 KW (52.8 KW for the avionics)

Clearly there seems to be need for upgrade in electrical power generation. Or some form of compromise e.g only energize one array at a time or even using lesser power module with of course noticeable degradation in range.
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Installing a new generator is relatively trivial. Crud, designing a new generator is relatively trivial, electric motors/generators aren't something magically hard. The simplest answer would be to just-over-double the length of the generator overall, to double the length of the field windings.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Installing a new generator is relatively trivial. Crud, designing a new generator is relatively trivial, electric motors/generators aren't something magically hard. The simplest answer would be to just-over-double the length of the generator overall, to double the length of the field windings.
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To make it fit the envelope of the original D-30KP is where the complication start. Thus why you see APU's in Russian and Chinese designs. Even with newer Indian A-50 with PS-90 engine and more powerful 90KW GP-26 generator.
 
stealthflanker said:
To make it fit the envelope of the original D-30KP is where the complication start. Thus why you see APU's in Russian and Chinese designs. Even with newer Indian A-50 with PS-90 engine and more powerful 90KW GP-26 generator.
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Granted. Depending on external packaging you may have issues.

But fundamentally, you can just bulge the engine fairing to clear the new, larger generator.
 
Geo said:
About NK Fulcrums…


There are enough rumours about the supply of the MiG-29 to the DPRK, about the limited licensed production of these aircraft and also about the NK ability to keep these aircraft operational under embargos.

These rumours have a wide range - from a few serviceable pieces to several dozen aircraft, including a certain ability to produce aircraft till now. Apparently, the DPRK has the ability to repair even most components of RD-33 engines.

In any case, as recent parades show, NK technologies are in fact underestimated rather than overestimated… The DPRK modernized Fulcrum's avionics about 10 years ago, including the installation of big MFD in the cockpit:

View attachment 651193

Source:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5fUrDww5Bc&t=1112s
(21:35)

This video is from 2014 - and in the meantime the DPRK has literally made a technological leap. We may be very surprised in the near future...
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Sorry, all I could see with Kim Jong Un sitting at that desk was...

monty-python-s-and-now-for-something-completely-different-still.jpeg
 
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