조기경보기 북한이 Il-76을 조기경보기로 개조중인 것이 확인됨

[위종민]

작년 12월 북한이 순안공항에서 Il-76을 무언가로 개조중인 장면이 포착됐는데, 8개월 가량 지난 뒤 확인해보니 조기경보기로 개조중인 것으로 확인됐네요. (   When Computers Went To Sea | 북한, Il-76을 조기경보기로 개조 중? - Daum 카페 )

7월 15일 촬영된 에어버스 디펜스 & 스페이스의 위성사진엔 순안공항에서 펜스를 세워두고 개조중인 Il-76이 찍혔는데, 레이돔을 지지할 페더스탈이 설치된 것이 확인됐습니다. 

러시아의 기술지원으로 작업이 이뤄지는 것으로 보이고, 성능은 아마도 A-50U와 유사할 테지요. 

Work Continues on Apparent Airborne Early Warning System - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Work Continues on Apparent Airborne Early Warning System - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Work Continues on Apparent Airborne Early Warning System

• By: Martyn Williams, Jack Liu and Peter Makowsky
• August 1, 2024
• Military Affairs, Satellite Imagery

Commercial satellite imagery indicates work to apparently convert an Air Koryo Ilyushin IL-76 into an airborne early warning platform is ongoing at Pyongyang’s main international airport.

If such a modification is completed, the aircraft would be the first platform of its type operated by the North Korean military, advancing its detection capabilities and supplementing ground-based radar. The work could also represent another step in DPRK-Russian cooperation, given its similarities to the Russian A-50U.

Conversion Timeline

The aircraft is one of three IL-76s carrying Air Koryo markings that has been based at Sunan Airport. Around October last year, it was moved to the maintenance area of the airport, and within days, a barrier was erected around it.

The maintenance area at Sunan International Airport is about halfway along the runway on the opposite side of the airfield to the passenger terminal. It houses two hangars and is home to several helicopters and small aircraft. Air Koryo jets are frequently visible in the area, but the barricade around the IL-76 is unusual.

Figure 1. Overview of Sunan International Airport maintenance area. Image Pleiades NEO © Airbus DS 2024. For media options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.

In November last year, work began in an area on top of the fuselage, just behind the wings. While the exact nature of the work is impossible to verify from imagery alone, it appears that a radar pedestal is being installed that will support a rotator, antenna, and radome for Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) or Airborne Early Warning (AEW) system.

Imagery from July 15 shows the aircraft remains inside the fenced-off area at the maintenance facility. A platform is visible alongside the aircraft near the likely radar pedestal, and materials or equipment are arranged inside the area.

Figure 2. Close up of IL-76 undergoing maintenance inside fenced-off area on July 15, 2024. Image Pleiades NEO © Airbus DS 2024. For media options, please contact thirtyeightnorth@gmail.com.

Comparable Systems

Converting an IL-76 into such an airborne platform was done in the Soviet Union in the 1970s by Beriev, which called the resulting aircraft the A-50. It was given the nickname “Mainstay“ by the National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The aircraft was modernized in 2003 to come up with the A-50U.

Comparing the A-50U to the work going on in Pyongyang, the apparent radar supports on the North Korean IL-76 are in the same place as those on an A-50U.

Figure 3. Image of Russian A-50U with radar. (Image: Wikimedia)

It is unclear if the work is being done with the cooperation of Russian engineers or material, but it did begin shortly after North Korea reportedly began shipping arms to Russia.

North Korea’s Fleet

North Korea operates three IL-76s, all of which have carried Air Koryo markings in recent years. The aircraft carry out a relatively specialized function, transporting cargo around the country and, sometimes, are used to support the movement of Kim Jong Un.

They are frequently observed at Sunan Airport in satellite imagery, but they are rarely observed flying or making overseas trips.

One was observed at Wonsan-Kalma Airport on May 22 this year. One was also seen in Hanoi in 2019 and Beijing, Guangzhou and Dalian in 2018, as Kim Jong Un engaged in international diplomacy.

[Minowski(김유철)]

쿨럭.. 진짜 할 건 다하네요. 뭐랄까 러시아도 비용 크게 들이지않으면서, 북한을 레버리지로 동북아를 크게 흔들수있는 방법을 모색하고 있달까 여하튼 우리한테는 일절 도움안되는 상황이네요..

[위종민]

잔여기체가 있긴 있는지 모르겠지만 전장에서 거의 써먹지 못하고 있는 펄크럼 이하 기체들을 보낼 수도 있겠단 생각도... 사실 북한에서 물자 수입할 때 예상된 상황이고, 우리가 우크라이나 지원을 너무 미지근하게 한 게 아닌가 싶어지네요.

[provide07]

호위 세력이 거의 없는 조기경보기는 방공망의 사냥감 1호가 된다는 얘기는 러시아에서 안 해준 건가...

[위종민]

전쟁날 거 같으면 중강진의 중국 근처 영공에서만 뺑뺑이 돌 것 같습니다 ㅎㅎㅎ

[Minowski(김유철)]

목적 자체가 그거 아닐까요? 중국의 방공우산 밑에서 평양 등 전략목표로 날아드는 순항미사일 등 우리쪽 타격자산을 감시하는 제한적인 용도로...

[위종민]

우리가 가진 패트리어트나 SM-2의 위협에 노출 안 되려면 평상시에도 평양 이북-이서 공역에서만 활동할 것 같습니다.