Korean People's Army Air Force

Korean People's Army Air Force
조선인민군 공군
Founded August 20, 1947 (1947-08-20)
Country  North Korea
Allegiance Kim Jong-un[1]
Size 110,000 personnel
940 aircraft[2]
Part of Korean People's Army
Garrison/HQ Pyongyang, North Korea
Nickname(s) "Korean People's Air Force", "KPAF", "KPAAF", "NKAF", "North Korean air force"
Anniversaries 20 August
Engagements Korean War
Vietnam War[3]
Syrian Civil War
Commanders
Commander-in-chief General Ri Pyong-chol
Notable
commanders
VMAR Cho Myong-rok
Col. Gen. Oh Gum-chol
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Former flag
Aircraft flown
Attack Su-7, Q-5, Su-25, Yak-18
Bomber Il-28
Fighter F-7B, F-5, F-6, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-29
Helicopter MD Helicopters MD 500, Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8 Mil Mi-14, Mil Mi-24
Reconnaissance D-4, Sky-09, Vega Shmel, MQM-107 Streaker
Trainer L-39, Shenyang FT-2
Transport IL-76, An-24, An-2

The Korean People's Army Air Force (Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선인민군 공군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍 空軍) is the appellation of the unified aviation forces of North Korea. The KPAF is the 2nd largest branch of the Korean People's Army comprising an estimated 110,000 members.[4] It possesses 940 aircraft of different types; mostly of Soviet and Chinese origin. Its primary task is to defend North Korean airspace.[5] When the People's Army was forged with Soviet assistance, the aviation unit became its air force branch on August 20, 1947. North Korea has celebrated August 20 as Air Force Foundation Day ever since.

History

Kim Il-sung set up the Aviation Association branches in Pyongyang, Sinuiju, Chongjin and other parts of the country in 1945. In December 1945 he merged them into the Aviation Association of Korea. The air force became a separate service in 1948. The KPAF incorporates much of the original Soviet air tactics, as well as North Korean experience from the UN bombings during the Korean War.

The KPAF has on occasion deployed abroad to assist fellow socialist states, with a North Korean flight of MiG-21s deploying to Bir Arida to help defend southern Egypt during the Yom Kippur War.[6]

In 1990-91, North Korea activated four forward air bases near the DMZ.

Organization

Operational doctrine

North Korean Ilyushin Il-10 at Kimpo International Airport, South Korea, on 21 September 1950.

Given North Korea's experience with heavy U.S. bombardments in the Korean War, its aim has been mainly to defend North Korean airspace. The heavy reliance on fighter aircraft, Surface-to-air missile and Anti-aircraft warfare reflects this. However, since nearly all of North Korea's aircraft inventory consists of aging and obsolete Soviet and Chinese aircraft, the primary goal of the air force may have changed in the last years to providing ground support for the land forces and threatening South Korean population centers and military targets with a massive air attack.

In this way, North Korea could try to maintain military parity with South Korea by using its air force as a deterrent, much like its ballistic missiles, instead of trying to maintain a technological parity in aircraft types for individual air-to-air roles. This seems to be confirmed by the recent redeployment of 120 mostly obsolete fighters, bombers and transport aircraft closer to the demilitarized zone, even though 440 modern aircraft are also based near the DMZ. Keeping in mind the production, storage and use of a vast chemical, biological and possibly nuclear weapons inventory by North Korea, this change in doctrine is even more significant.

Personnel

From 1978 to 1995 General Jo Myong-rok was the commander of the air force. In October 1995 he was promoted to vice-marshal and appointed Chief of the KPA General Political Bureau and a member of the Korean Workers' Party Central Military Committee. His place as commander of the Air Force was taken by Colonel General Oh Gum-chol.

Annual flying hours

The number of annual flying hours (AFH) per pilot is, like almost every other aspect of the KPAF, very hard to estimate. Most sources on the subject abstain from giving hard numbers, but all of them estimate the average annual flying hours per pilot as being 'low' to 'very low'. The number of annual flying hours is of course very important in estimating the individual skill and experience of the pilots of an air force: more annual flying hours suggests better trained pilots. Most estimates present a rather grim picture: AFH per pilot for the KPAF are said to be only 15 or 25[7] hours per pilot each year - comparable to the flying hours of air forces in ex-Soviet countries in the early 1990s. In comparison, most NATO fighter pilots fly at least 150 hours a year. Ground training, both in classrooms, on instructional airframes or in a flight simulator can only substitute for 'the real thing' to a certain degree, and the low number of modern jet trainers in the KPAF arsenal points to a very modest amount of flying time for the formation of new pilots.

There are a number of possible explanations for the low AFH: concern over the aging of equipment, scarcity of spare parts - especially for the older aircraft - difficulties with worn airframes, fear of defection and the scarcity of fuel are all contributing factors. It is very likely however that some 'elite' pilots and regiments receive considerably more flying hours. Especially those equipped with modern aircraft and tasked with homeland defence - like the 57th regiment flying MiG-29s and the 60th regiment flying MiG-23s - are receiving multiple times the average AFH per pilot; however, aging equipment, the scarcity of fuel and the general economic crisis in the DPRK will affect these regiments as well, and keep their AFH low compared to NATO AFH.

AFP reported on January 23, 2012 that the KPAF had conducted more flight training than average in 2011.

The Chosun Ilbo reported on March 29, 2012 that the KPAF had dramatically increased the number of flights to 650 per day.[8]

Structure

Following is a list of bases where North Korean Army Air Force aircraft are permanently based.[9][10]

Air bases

Northwestern area
Base Location Units Notes
Uiju Airfield 40°08′59″N 124°29′53″E / 40.14972°N 124.49806°E / 40.14972; 124.49806 24th Air Wing (Transport) Il-28 or Harbin B-5s
and disassembled MiG-21s
Panghyon South Highway Strip MiG-17F/J-5, F-5/FT-5
Taechon Airfield 39°54′12″N 125°29′13″E / 39.90333°N 125.48694°E / 39.90333; 125.48694 5th Air Transport Wing
Kaech'on Airfield 39°44′45″N 125°53′43″E / 39.74583°N 125.89528°E / 39.74583; 125.89528 HQ, 1st Air Combat Command
35th Air Fighter Wing
HQ
MiG-19/J-6.
Fighter base with 2500 m runway.
Pukch'ang Airport 39°29′50″N 125°58′32″E / 39.49722°N 125.97556°E / 39.49722; 125.97556 60th Air Fighter Wing (1 ACC)
Air Transport Wing (5 TD)
MiG-23ML/MiG-23UB/MiG-15UTI
H500D/H500E/500D.
This base was where most new Soviet fighter
aircraft were delivered during the 1960s.[11]
Samjangkol Air Transport Wing (6 TD) Mi-2
Sunchon Airport 39°24′43″N 125°53′25″E / 39.41194°N 125.89028°E / 39.41194; 125.89028 55th Air Fighter Wing (1 ACC) Su-25K/Su-25UBK/Su-7BMK
MiG-29/MiG-29UB[12]
Kanch'on Air Transport Wing (6 TD) Mi-4/Z-5/Mi-8/Mi-17/Mi-2
West Coast and Pyongyang area (Pyongyang is also the location of HQ, KPAAF)
DMZ area
East Coast area
Far Northeast area

Aircraft

Current inventory

A North Korean Shenyang J-6
A North Korean MiG-29S, 2003
A former Indonesian Lim-5 on display in the United States in North Korean markings
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
MiG-29 Russia multirole 35[14]
MiG-21 Soviet Union fighter 26[14]
MiG-23 Soviet Union fighter-bomber 56[14]
Sukhoi Su-7 Soviet Union fighter-bomber 18[14]
Sukhoi Su-25 Russia attack 34[14]
Ilyushin Il-28 Soviet Union medium bomber H-5 80[14] Chinese-built variant designated the H-5
Shenyang F-5 People's Republic of China fighter 106[14] derivative of the MiG-17
Shenyang J-6 People's Republic of China fighter F-6 97[14] license built MiG-19
Chengdu J-7 People's Republic of China fighter F-7 120[14] license built MiG-21
Transport
Antonov An-24 Ukraine heavy transport 1[14]
Helicopters
MD 500 United States light utility 84[14] Aircraft were illegally obtained by circumventing U.S. export controls.[15]
PZL Mi-2 Poland utility 46[14]
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union utility 40[14]
Mil Mi-14 Soviet Union ASW / SAR 8[14]
Mil Mi-25 Russia attack 20[14]
Mil Mi-26 Russia transport 4[14]
Trainer Aircraft
Shenyang F-5 People's Republic of China jet trainer FT-5 135[14]
Shenyang FT-2 People's Republic of China jet trainer 30[14] Chinese production of the MiG-15UTI

Aircraft subtypes and capabilities

Fighters

Bombers

Ground attack aircraft

Attack helicopters

Special Forces

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

North Korea is believed to operate some 300 reconnaissance drones and 10 attack UAVs.

The DoD's annual report to congress about North Korea's military capabilities states that North Korean press reported that the UAV was capable of carrying out precision strikes by ramming a target.[24]

Armament

The KPAAF use the R-23 missile similar to this one
Name Origin Type Notes
Air-to-air missile
R-27  Russia air-to-air missile 60 medium-range missiles[26]
R-73  Russia air-to-air missile
R-60  Soviet Union air-to-air missile 190 missiles[26]
K-13  Soviet Union air-to-air missile 1050 missiles[26]
R-23  Soviet Union air-to-air missile 250 missiles[26]
Air-to-surface missile
KN-09  North Korea air-to-surface missile
Kh-35  URS  Russia air-to-surface missile
Kh-28  URS air-to-surface missile
Kh-23  URS air-to-surface missile
Kh-25  URS air-to-surface missile

Air Defense

North Korea has deployed a wide range of SAM and AAA systems ranging from the oldest Soviet designs to highly mobile and modern examples. Most SAM systems are of Soviet design lineage with some locally produced designs, while AA artillery is from both Soviet and local suppliers. MANPADS are used extensively, with over 15,000 units fielded according to a 1995 Pentagon report on the country. North Korea has one of the most extensive integrated air defence systems (IADS) in the world, with many of its radars and launchers positioned on fortified elevating platforms, its aircraft positioned in hardened bunkers and even two underground airbases, and some level of coverage for every town.[27] The addition of the KN-06 SAM, which was flight-tested in the spring of 2011, and a local model of the Pechora 2 (Upgraded SA-3), unveiled at a 2012 military parade have notably expanded the systems capabilities. According IHS Jane's Defence Weekly currently has on 2014 two different more updated system: the KN-06/Ponghae-5 was probably related to the Chinese HQ-16A system, while the Ponghae-6 could be related with the HQ-9 or the Russian S-300.[28]

Equipment

Name Origin Type Quantity Notes
SAM
KN-06  North Korea LR-SAM
S-200  Soviet Union SAM system 75 missiles[26]
Buk  Russia MR SAM [29]
Kub  Soviet Union MR SAM
S-125 Neva/Pechora  Russia SAM system 300 missiles[26]
S-75 Dvina  Soviet Union SAM system 1950 missiles[26]
S-25 Berkut  Soviet Union SAM system
SA-7  Russia MANPADS 4000 units[26]
SA-16 9K310 Igla-1  Russia SAM system Produced locally
Air Defence Artillery
ZSU-57-2  Soviet Union self-propelled 250[26] tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft system
ZSU-23-4  Soviet Union self-propelled 248[26] tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft system
Radars
SAIRAN Kashef  Iran early warning radar

Capabilities

The KPAF operates a wide range of fighter and attack aircraft. North Korea is one of the few nations still operating the obsolete MiG-17 and MiG-19 fighters, yet it operates more modern and fairly capable MiG-23 and MiG-29 fighters. The KPAF's most numerous fighter is the MiG-21, which is somewhat obsolete but still a worthy foe in air-to-air combat, if maintained properly and crewed by experienced pilots. An assessment by US analysts GlobalSecurity.org reported that the air force "has a marginal capability for defending North Korean airspace and a limited ability to conduct air operations against South Korea."[30] Yet, North Korea operates a wide variety of air defence equipment, from short-range MANPADS and ZPU-4 machine guns, to long-range SA-5 Gammon SAM systems and large-calibre AA artillery guns. DPRK has one of the densest air defence networks in the world. Ilyushin Il-28 Beagle bombers provide a medium-range attack platform, despite being generally obsolete. A large part of the ground attack aircraft are kept in heavily fortified hangars, some of which are capable of withstanding a nearby nuclear blast. Stealth capacity is known in the KPAF through researching in radar-absorbing paint and inventory deception.[31]

Ranks and uniforms

Ranks

The Korean People's Air and Anti-Air Forces has five categories of ranks; general officers, senior officers, junior officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and airmen.

Enlisted

The soldier and NCO ranks are aircraftman, leading aircraftman, senior aircraftman, corporal, junior sergeant, sergeant, flight sergeant and master aircrew.

NCOsSoldiers
Ranks in Korean T'ŭkmu-sangsa
특무상사
Sangsa
상사
Chungsa
중사
Hasa
하사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa
상급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa
중급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa
하급병사
Chŏnsa
전사
Ranks Master AircrewFlight Sergeant SergeantJunior SergeantCorporalSenior AircraftmanLeading AircraftmanAircraftman

Officers

Junior officer ranks are junior lieutenant, lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain.

Senior officer ranks are major, lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigader.

General officer ranks are major general, lieutenant general, colonel general, and general of the air force.

GeneralsOfficers
Ranks in Korean Taejang
대장
Sangjang
상장
Chungjang
중장
Sojang
소장
Taejwa
대좌
Sangjwa
상좌
Chungjwa
중좌
Sojwa
소좌
Taewi
대위
Sangwi
상위
Chungwi
중위
Sowi
소위
Ranks General of the Air ForceColonel GeneralLieutenant GeneralMajor GeneralBrigadierColonelLieutenant ColonelMajorCaptainFirst LieutenantSecond LieutenantThird Lieutenant

Marshals

Marshal officer ranks are Vice-Marshal of the Air Force and Marshal of the Air Force. These also wear the same pattern uniform as their ground counterparts.

Marshals
Ranks in Korean Wonsu
원수
Ch'asu
차수
Ranks Marshal of the Air ForceVice Marshal of the Air Force

Uniforms

Generally as a separate service in the KPA the service wears the same KPA uniforms but with air force blue peaked caps (especially for officers) or kepi-styled caps for men and berets for women, worn with their full dress uniforms. Pilots wear helmets and flight suits when on parade and when in flight duty while air defense personnel wear the same duty dress uniforms as their ground forces counterparts but with air force blue borders on the caps.

Defections

Due to the political condition of North Korea, several North Korean pilots from the KPAF defected with their jets. These incidents include:

See also

References

  1. https://www.enca.com/world/north-korean-military-takes-oath-loyalty
  2. Flightglobal - World Air Forces 2015 (PDF), Flightglobal.com
  3. Richard M Bennett. "Missiles and madness". Asia Times.
  4. North Korea Country Study, pp. 18-19
  5. "KPAF". GlobalSecurity.org.
  6. Leone, Dario. "The Aviationist". An unknown story from the Yom Kippur war: Israeli F-4s vs North Korean MiG-21s. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  7. Intelligence experts analyse 'North Korean fighter jet crash', The Telegraph, 18 August 2010
  8. "N.Korea Steps Up Air Force Training Flights". The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition) archived at archive.org. 2012-03-29. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-24. North Korea has stepped up the number of training flights since last month to as many as 650 sorties a day. The North Korean air force is conducting training flights even on weekends [...]
  9. North Korean Special Weapons Facilities, Federation of American Scientists, 2006.
  10. North Korean Air Forces, Scramble, Dutch Aviation Society, 2006. Archived January 17, 2010, at WebCite
  11. Preliminary Assessment of BLACK SHIELD Mission 6847 over North Korea, Central Intelligence Agency, 29 January 1968
  12. "MIG 29 in Sunchon". Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  13. Google Earth image here
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "World Air Forces 2016 pg. 22". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  15. Cenciotti, David (31 July 2013). "North Korea's Illegally Supplied Helicopters Emerge". Military & Defense. Business Insider. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  16. Narushige Michishita (2009-10-06). North Korea's Military-Diplomatic Campaigns, 1966-2008. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-203-87058-7.
  17. http://www.bu.edu/globalbeat/nuclear/PIR1099.html
  18. North Korean Air Forces (Scramble.nl) Archived January 17, 2010, at WebCite
  19. Bermudez, Joseph. "KPA Journal Vol.2 No.4" (PDF). Journal. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  20. "S. Korea moves on sanctions as N. Korea issues warning". USA Today. October 27, 2006.
  21. 1 2 N. Korea's Drones Prompt Seoul To Seek Radars - Defensenews.com, 14 April 2014
  22. North Korea Used Cheap Chinese Commercial UAVs - Strategypage.com, 20 April 2014
  23. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/05/report-north-korea-using-old-us-made-drones/
  24. http://www.defense.gov/pubs/North_Korea_Military_Power_Report_2013-2014.pdf
  25. http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20160118/1033330675/north-korea-drone-ops.html
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 29 May 2015
  27. Collapse of Libya's air defence, Defence Today, 2011. Unlike Syria, Libya and Iran - who largely deploy their SAMs from unhardened and often rudimentary open fixed SAM sites - the DPRK's sites are amongst the best hardened globally, with reports of engagement radars mounted on elevating platforms, to permit the radars to be hidden in underground shafts to defeat air attacks.
  28. http://www.janes.com/article/43551/us-s-korean-sources-suggest-north-has-slbm-ambitions
  29. Армия Ким Чен Ира, Анатолий Цыганок. ПОЛИТ.РУ, 16 October 2006
  30. Korean People's Army Air Force - North Korea
  31. North Korea 'develops stealth paint to camouflage fighter jets'
  32. NK pilot defector promoted to colonel
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