North Korea tested a new air defense system. A video of test launches of the new air defense system of North Korea has been published. Should we be afraid of North Korea?

Exact date and location unknown

On the morning of Sunday, May 28, it became known about test launches of new missiles aimed at intercepting drones or enemy missiles.

“Like a lightning (rocket) in an instant, the drone and the enemy’s missile were blown to dust,” a voice-over commented on the launch.

Earlier it was reported that North Korea tested new system air defense. The exact date and place of their holding is unknown.

The test was attended by the leader North Korea Kim Chen In. After that, he elements of the system. Kim Jong-un stressed that it is necessary to develop a new system in the maximum quantity so that it covers the entire country like a forest. He also noted that the new air defense should "deprive the enemies of the illusion of their air supremacy."

Recall to increase pressure on North Korea.He will join the American aircraft carriers"Carl Vinson and Ronald Reaganwhich are already in the Korean Peninsula region.

The first operation of the DPRK Air Force during the so-called. The “War to Liberate the Fatherland” (this is the official name of the war in Korea that took place in June 1950-July 1953) was the attack by Yak-9 fighters on aircraft stationed on the territory of Seoul International Airport on June 25, 1950. Before the start of the UN operation three months later North Korean pilots on Yak-9 fighters had five confirmed air victories: one B-29, two L-5s, one F-80 and F-51D each, while not suffering losses. The situation completely changed when the air forces of the countries of the international coalition settled in the South, and the DPRK air forces were almost completely destroyed. The remaining aircraft were transferred across the Chinese border to the cities of Mukden and Anshan, where in November 1950, together with the Chinese Air Force, the United Air Force was created. The PRC continued to provide shelter and assistance to its southern neighbor, and by the end of hostilities in 1953, the CPV Air Force had approximately 135 MiG-15 fighters. A peace treaty between North and South Korea was never signed, and since then there has been a tenuous peace between the two camps.

From 1969 to the present, the DPRK Air Force has not shown high activity, with the exception of individual false attacks by jet aircraft in the area of ​​​​the Demilitarized Zone (DZ) / Line of tactical operations, which are supposedly aimed at testing the reaction time of South Korean air defense. For example, since 2011, North Korean MiG-29 fighters have several times forced South Korean F-16s and F-15Ks to intercept.

Selection and training

Cadets for the Air Force are selected from other branches of the Armed Forces, called up or recruited on a voluntary basis. The aircrew are selected from the most successful members of the Youth Red Guard (composed of 17-25 year old young people) and usually come from politically influential families, distinguished by a higher educational level than the average North Korean.

The first step for those who want to become a military pilot in the DPRK is the Air Force Academy. Kim Chaeka in Chongjin, where cadets train for four years. Their flight service begins with 70 hours of flight practice on Nanchang CJ-6 training aircraft, which are Chinese copies of the Soviet Yak-18. 50 such aircraft were received in 1977-1978. They are based at two airfields on the east coast at Chongjin and Gyeongsong. Later, after receiving the rank of second lieutenant or "Sowi", cadets move on to a 22-month advanced course at the Gyeongsong Officers' Flight School. It includes 100 flight hours on MiG-15UTI combat training fighters (50 were purchased in 1953-1957) or approximately the same obsolete MiG-17 fighters, which are deployed at the nearby Oran airbase.

After graduating from flight school with the rank of first lieutenant or "Jungwi", the freshly minted pilot is assigned to warhead for further two years of study, following which he is considered fully prepared. Future helicopter pilots are trained on Mi-2 helicopters, and pilots transport aviation- on An-2. An officer can look forward to 30 years of service, but promotion to higher ranks, the highest of which is General of the Air Force or "Deajang", requires many additional courses, and the highest positions are political appointments.

Training follows rigid Soviet-era doctrine, and must conform to the highly centralized command and control structure of the Air Force. By interviewing defectors to South Korea, it becomes clear that poor aircraft maintenance, fuel shortages that limit flying time, and also a generally unsatisfactory training system prevent the training of pilots of the same level as their Western opponents.

Organization

The current structure of the DPRK Air Force includes headquarters, four aviation divisions, two tactical aviation brigades and such a number of sniper brigades (forces special purpose), which are designed to carry out a landing in the enemy rear in order to disorganize it during the hostilities.

The main headquarters is located in Pyongyang, it directly controls the special flight detachment (VIP transportation), the Gyeongsong officer flight school, intelligence, electronic warfare, test units, as well as all air defense units of the DPRK Air Force.

Offensive and defensive weapons are part of the three air divisions stationed in Kaesong, Deoksan and Hwangju, which are responsible for the use of numerous artillery anti-aircraft systems and SAM. The remaining air division in Oran is intended for operational training. Two tactical transport brigades have their headquarters in Tachon and Seondeok.

Aviation divisions and tactical brigades have at their disposal several airfields, almost all have fortified hangars, and some have individual elements of infrastructure hidden in the mountains. But not everyone is assigned "their" aircraft. The DPRK's war plan provides for the dispersal of aircraft from the main bases in order to complicate their destruction by a preventive strike.

The Air Force has not only "stationary" air bases at its disposal: the DPRK is entwined with a network of long and straight highways, which are crossed by other highways with the help of large concrete bridges. And although this can be observed in other countries, in the DPRK there is no private transport, moreover, women are even forbidden to drive a bicycle. Goods are transported by rail, and road transport is very small. Highways are designed for the rapid movement of military units across the country, as well as alternate airfields in case of war.

The main task of the DPRK Air Force is air defense, which is carried out automated system airspace control, which includes a network of radar stations located throughout the country and covering the air situation over the Korean Peninsula and southern China. The entire system consists of a single air defense district in which all operations are coordinated from the combat command post at the headquarters of the DPRK Air Force. The district is divided into four sector commands: northwestern, northeastern, southern, and the Pyongyang Air Defense Subsector. Each sector consists of a headquarters, an airspace control center, an early warning radar regiment(s), an air defense regiment(s), an air defense artillery division, and other independent air defense units. If an intruder is detected, the alarm is raised in the fighter units, the aircraft themselves take to the air, and the air defense system and anti-aircraft artillery take the target for escort. Further actions of air defense systems and artillery should be coordinated with the headquarters of fighter aviation and the combat command post.

The main nodes of the system are based around semi-mobile early warning radars, including Russian early warning radars and 5N69 guidance systems, two of which were delivered in 1984. These systems, whose declared detection range is 600 km, are supported by three ST-68U missile detection and control radars received in 1987-1988. They can simultaneously detect up to 100 air targets at a maximum range of 175 km and are optimized for detecting low-flying targets and guiding S-75 air defense missiles. Older P-10 systems, 20 of which entered service in 1953-1960, have maximum range detection at 250 km, and five more relatively newer P-20 radars with the same detection range are elements of the radar field system. It includes at least 300 fire control radars for cannon artillery.

It is unlikely that the North Koreans have only these systems. North Korea often finds ways to circumvent international sanctions designed to prevent new weapons systems from falling into their hands.

Operational Doctrines

The actions of the DPRK Air Force, which number reaches 100,000 people, are determined by two main provisions of the basic doctrine of the North Korean army: joint operations, integration guerrilla war with the actions of regular troops; and "war on two fronts": coordinating the operations of regular troops, guerrilla actions, as well as actions of special operations forces deep in South Korea. Four main tasks of the Air Force follow from this: air defense of the country, landing of special operations forces, tactical air support for ground forces and fleet, transport and logistics tasks.

Armament

The solution to the first of the four tasks, air defense, lies with the fighter aviation, which consists of about 100 Shenyang F-5 fighters (Chinese copy of the MiG-17, 200 of which were received in the 1960s), the same number of Shenyang F-6 / Shenyang F-6C (Chinese version of the MiG-19PM), delivered in 1989-1991.

The F-7B fighter is a Chinese version of the later versions of the MiG-21. 25 MiG-21bis fighters remain in service, which are the remnants of those 30 former Kazakh Air Force vehicles illegally purchased in Kazakhstan in 1999. The DPRK Air Force received at least 174 MiG-21s of various modifications in 1966-1974. Approximately 60 MiG-23s, mainly modifications of the MiG-23ML were received in 1985-1987.

The most powerful DPRK fighters are the MiG-29B / UB, those that remained from the 45 purchased in 1988-1992. Approximately 30 of them were assembled at the Pakchon aircraft factory, which was specifically designed to assemble this particular type of aircraft. But the idea fell through due to the arms embrago imposed by Russia as a result of disputes over payments.

North Korean ingenuity is undeniable, and there is no reason to believe that, given the regime's focus on military matters, they can't keep planes that are long overdue in a scrap yard, as is the case with Iran. Of these aircraft, only the MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-29 are armed with air-to-air missiles: 50 R-27 (purchased in 1991), 450 R-23 (deliveries in 1985-1989) and 450 R-60s purchased at the same time. More than 1,000 R-13 missiles (a Soviet copy of the American AIM-9 Sidewinder) were received in 1966-1974, but their service life should have expired by now. Additional deliveries may have taken place in violation of international sanctions.

The strike force is represented by up to 40 Nanchang A-5 Fantan-A attack aircraft delivered in 1982, the remaining 28-30 Su-7B fighter-bombers acquired in 1971, and up to 36 Su-25K / BK attack aircraft received at the end 1980s The DPRK maintains a significant number (80 or more) of Harbin H-5 front-line bombers (a Chinese copy of the Soviet Il-28) in flight condition, some of which belong to the reconnaissance modification of the HZ-5.

The direct support of the troops is carried out by most of the delivered in 1985-1986. 47 Mi-24D helicopters, of which only 20 are estimated to remain operational. They, like the Mi-2 helicopters, are armed with Malyutka and Fagot anti-tank missiles, produced in the DPRK under a Soviet license.

Part of the H-5 bombers is adapted to launch the North Korean version of the Chinese anti-ship cruise missile CSS-N-1 designated as KN-01 Keumho-1. The missile has a range of 100-120 km, 100 were fired in 1969-1974. In 1986, five Mi-14PL anti-submarine helicopters were received, but their current condition is unknown.

It is believed that the DPRK has UAVs in service, it is also known that Russian complex Malachite, with ten Shmel-1 tactical UAVs, was purchased in 1994. It would not be surprising to learn that Pyongyang used them as models for the development of its own UAVs.

Logistic support is provided by Air Koryo, the state-owned air carrier, but at the same time being the transport regiment of the DPRK Air Force. Today, the airline's fleet consists of a single Il-18V (delivered in the 1960s), as well as three Il-76TDs (in operation since 1993). Other types of aircraft are represented by the An-24 family, four Il-62Ms, the same number of Tu-154Ms, and a pair of Tu-134s and Tu-204s. The company also operates an unknown number of helicopters. Although their main purpose is military, they carry a civilian registration, which allows them to fly outside the DPRK.

At present, there are no clear signs of North Korea's modernization of its aviation, despite the fact that a high-ranking North Korean procurement delegation visited Russia last August.

missile defense

Of course, the DPRK air defense system is based on three main "pillars" - air defense systems. This is the S-75 air defense system, in 1962-1980. 2000 rockets and 45 launchers, and this system is the most numerous. Many of them have recently been deployed near the 38th parallel, and most of the remaining ones protect three corridors - one along Kaesong, Sariwon, Pyongyang, Pakchon and Sinuiju on the west coast. The other two run along the east coast between Wonsan, Hamheung and Sinpo, and between Chongjin and Najin.

In 1985, 300 missiles and eight launchers for S-125 air defense systems were delivered, most of them covering high-value objects, especially Pyongyang and military infrastructure. In 1987, four launchers and 48 S-200 SAM missiles were purchased. These long-range systems for medium and high altitudes use the same guidance radars as the S-75. Four regiments armed with this type of air defense system are deployed next to their counterparts with S-75 air defense systems (optimized to combat high-altitude targets).

Another numerous type of air defense system is the KN-06 - a local copy of the Russian two-digit S-300 air defense system. Its firing range is estimated at 150 km. This truck-mounted system was first publicly displayed at a military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Workers' Party in October 2010.

Significant efforts are being expended to complicate the destruction from the air missile systems and associated radars. Most of North Korea's early warning, target tracking and missile guidance radars are located either in large underground WMD-proof concrete bunkers or in excavated mountain shelters. These facilities consist of tunnels, a control room, crew quarters, and blast-resistant steel doors. If necessary, the radar antenna is lifted to the surface by a special elevator. There are also many false radars and missile launchers, as well as spare sites for the air defense systems themselves.

The DPRK Air Force is also responsible for the use of MANPADS. The most numerous are MANPADS "Strela-2", but at the same time in 1978-1993. approximately 4,500 North Korean copies of the Chinese HN-5 MANPADS were delivered to the troops. In 1997, Russia gave the DPRK a license to manufacture 1,500 Igla-1 MANPADS. The Strela-2 is a first-generation MANPADS that can only be guided by near-infrared radiation, mostly engine exhaust. On the other hand, Igla-1 is equipped with a dual-mode (infrared and ultraviolet) guidance head, which can be aimed at less powerful radiation sources emanating from the aircraft airframe. Both systems are optimized for use against low-flying targets.

Speaking about artillery air defense systems, it should be noted that their backbone is the 100-mm KS-19 guns developed in the 1940s. 500 guns of this type were delivered in 1952-1980, followed by 24 guns in 1995. More deadly are about 400 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns - 57-mm ZSU-57 and 23-mm ZSU 23/4, received in 1968-1988. This arsenal covers big cities, ports, large enterprises. North Korea has also developed its own self-propelled 37mm anti-aircraft gun, called the M1992, which bears a strong resemblance to Chinese designs.

State is outcast

The existing weapons made it possible to create one of the densest air defense systems in the world. The emphasis on air defense systems and cannon artillery is a direct result of Pyongyang's inability to acquire modern fighter jets or even spare parts for the antiques that make up the majority of the DPRK's air force. Probing the positions of China and Russia in 2010 and 2011 was rejected by both countries. As a rogue state on the world stage, the CPV has gained a reputation as a non-binding payer for goods already delivered, and even China, which has been North Korea's ally and aide for many years, is showing irritation at its southern neighbor's demeanor. Much to Beijing's annoyance, it is deliberately refusing to create a market economy of the type that has proved so successful in China's reforms.

Maintaining the status quo and continuing to oppress their own people are the main driving forces behind the leaders of the DPRK. It turns out that it is much cheaper to create or threaten to create nuclear weapons, which can harass and threaten potential external aggressors than to buy and maintain modern military forces. The North Korean leadership was quick to learn from the fate of Colonel Gaddafi, who succumbed to Western demands and destroyed his nuclear capability and other weapons of mass destruction by joining the "good guys" club.

Korean peninsula

The second task facing the DPRK Air Force is to deploy special operations forces to the Korean Peninsula. It is estimated that there are up to 200,000 men in the North Korean army who are called upon to carry out such a task. The landing is largely carried out thanks to 150 An-2 transport aircraft and its Chinese counterpart Nanchang / Shijiazhuang Y-5. In the 1980s about 90 Hughes 369D/E helicopters were secretly purchased to circumvent sanctions, and it is believed that today 30 of them are still capable of taking off. This type of helicopter makes up a large part of South Korea's air fleet, and if special operations forces infiltrate south of the border, they can confuse the ranks of the defenders. Interestingly, South Korea also has an unknown number of An-2s, presumably with similar tasks.

The next largest type of helicopter in service with the PRCDR is the Mi-2, of which there are about 70. But they have a very small payload. Probably, the Mi-4 veteran is also in service in small quantities. The only modern types of helicopters are the Mi-26, four copies of which were received in 1995-1996. and 43 Mi-8T/MTV/Mi-17, at least eight of which were obtained illegally from Russia in 1995.

Should we be afraid of North Korea?

The North Korean military exists solely to protect the Fatherland and threaten to invade South Korea. Any such invasion would begin with a massive attack from the South from low altitudes, with Special Operations Air Force being deployed across the front lines to “shutdown” strategic installations before a ground offensive across the Demilitarized Zone (DZ). Although such a threat may seem fantastic due to the state of the DPRK air force, it cannot be completely discounted. The importance that South Korea attaches to its own defense testifies to this. Over the past twenty years, four new North Korean air bases have been established near the DZ, reducing the flight time to Seoul to a few minutes. Seoul itself is a major target, one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of over 10 million. More than half of South Korea's population lives in the surrounding agglomeration of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, which is the second largest in the world: 25 million people live here and most of the country's industry is located.

There is no doubt that even if the North suffers huge losses as a result of the conflict, it will also be devastating for the South. The shock to the global economy will also be severe. It is worth mentioning that at the end of 2010, when the northerners shelled the South Korean island, there were also major maneuvers during which a large-scale air raid was practiced, which was supposedly an imitation of a large-scale war. The result, to some extent, turned into a farce, as during the exercise there were collisions of aircraft, low reliability, weak command and control, and an unsystematic plan were revealed.

No one can say in which direction the current leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, will lead the country, and to what extent he is just a puppet in the hands of the old guard, who has usurped power. What you can be sure of is that there are no signs of change on the horizon. And the world community looks at the country with suspicion, and the latest nuclear tests on February 12, 2013, only strengthened it in this.

Combat personnel of the DPRK Air Force. According toAir forceIntelligence as amended by the ACT Center

Originalpublications: Air Forces Monthly, April 2013 - Sergio Santana

Translation by Andrey Frolov

Air Defense and Aviation of North Korea is represented by
KN-06 aka 번개-5호 aka Pon "gae-6 - 16 S-300 PT vehicles were purchased from an unnamed country along with documentation for the production of 5V55KD missiles. It's just that technologically they can do just that. Then art deco processing was done. To hide where the firewood comes from. The radar imitating the radar from the HQ-9 and S-300V is just an imitation and a flare emitter. The real guidance comes from the 5N63 installation, which stands on the sidelines :). The stock of missiles is already more than 200 missiles. What can the S-300 PT - 6 target and 12 missile channels.Range from 5 to 75 km, height up to 27 km.The acquisition took place by barter - slaves in the Russian Federation in exchange for complexes from Ukraine. :)
S-200 75 missiles BUT, how many of them will fly is a big question, they are not produced, and the resource has long ended. Most likely, if the pair takes off already cool. So purely radar.
S-125 300 missiles and the same BUT.
S-75, but the production of these 11D missiles is in both versions. A total of 180 launchers, and more than 2,000 missiles in stock. the disadvantages of this system are that their radio command guidance is well suppressed. Range up to 34 km, at an altitude of up to 27 km. Missile speed Mach 3. This is the main air defense of the DPRK.
There were 75 S-25 missiles in 1961, but this has long been gone. These are essentially purely radar stations. How many of them are working...
Kub-M1 - there were 18 pieces. Why was it? Because missiles are not produced for them. So it’s also purely radar with mockups.
Buk-M1 - 8 pieces from an unnamed country. There are no those docks for missiles. Rockets were sold 50 pieces. Capable of hitting aircraft from 3 to 35 km, missiles - 25 km at a height of 22 km maximum speed targets 800 m/s. Julia? You? How can you :)
Also in the DPRK, copies of the 9K38 Igla MANPADS are being made with a range of up to 5 kilometers. They could even be seen in Syria. In total, more than 1000 complexes were manufactured, but most of them were sold.
We have old arrows. But they will shoot from them from the strength of 100 or even less.
there are 1200 barrels of 23 mm anti-aircraft guns (in assemblies of 2,4,6,8) and the production of cartridges for them.
Aviation
of all Aviation, the real threat is
MiG-29 is 30 vehicles 9-12A aka MiG-29A and 5 vehicles 9-51 aka MiG-29UB without radar. Of which about 23 vehicles are combat ready. And also there is a sufficient supply of ammunition for them. Which is updated a little through the illegal market.
MiG-23 is 48 MiG-23MF and 8 MiG-23UB vehicles. BUT .... Of these, 18 MiG-23MF vehicles are combat-ready. And two MiG-23UBs can take off and land.
Su-25 is 26 simple and 8 UB. Almost all of them fly, but these are still attack aircraft.
The rest is flying garbage, most of which no longer flies the originals and Chinese copies of the MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, Il-28, Su-7, An-2. They are suitable only for museums, well, or as flying targets. In total, there are 700 such targets in the open media. Which of course is complete nonsense. MiG-15 and MiG-17 - 60 years. Their engines have long since exhausted their resources. If a few pieces for a museum look go up, that's already cool. MiG-19 45 years old. here, well, two dozen can take off. IL-28 is the same. There were fewer of them. Su-7 was not enough if one takes off cool. MiG-21 officially it was 26 pieces. But spare parts for them can still be obtained easily. Therefore, there are 20 of them flying. But which one is the rival for the F-16 or F-15K ... funny. An-2 ... corncob ... with a machine gun ... arctic fox. In total, there are 80 such aircraft targets in the sky, if they raise it, it will be a fascinating shooting of targets :).
So 41 cars that can really fight in the air. 43 cars that can try to show the attack and die. That's all Air Force.
Oh yes, helicopters.
Mi-24 is listed as 20, flies 12. Mi-14 is listed as 8 flies 3. Mi-8 is listed as 40 flies 32. Polish copies of Mi-2 are listed as 46 flies 12.
But the main helicopter is unexpectedly the American MD500, also known as the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, and yes it is produced in the DPRK. How do you like these pies? The basis of the North Korean helicopter forces is the AMERICAN MILITARY helicopter. At the same time, not only the helicopters themselves were sold to the DPRK, but also a complete set of technical documentation, including the Allison Model 250 engine. In my opinion, this is enchanting :). Armament or two blocks of 70 mm nurses with 7 missiles each. Or two 12.7 mm machine guns. Either other NURS units of the same size and weight, or 4 ATGMs of the Kornet type. 5 passengers.
On the this moment 96 cars were produced and all are active. The armament of this helicopter, of course, has nothing to do with air defense, but it can be rather unpleasant for the enemy. The DPRK has no problems with NURS, since they are not difficult to manufacture and are produced.
The air defense fleet is practically absent and is represented only by anti-aircraft machine guns, and even those are only 300 barrels.
Of the above, from the point of view of air defense, only kits provided in the course of cooperation with the Russian Federation pose a serious threat.
Namely, S-300PT disguised as KN-06 up to 75 km, Buk-M1 up to 35 km, and S-75 up to 34 km. In addition, 41 MiG-29 and MiG-23 aircraft with a full range of ammunition. In addition, for low-flying targets at altitudes up to 5 km, the danger is the high saturation of Igla-1 MANPADS, 43 Su-25 and MiG-21 aircraft and 140 OH-6, Mi-24, Mi-8 helicopters.
However, this state of affairs is only due to the repair problem existing in the DPRK. The DPRK has its own CNC and they were supplied to the Russian Federation. However, the level of materials science is at the level of the 1970s and has failures. This leads to the fact that not everyone can manufacture engine parts for the MiG-23 in the DPRK. There are also technological failures - the DPRK cannot fix the radar of the MiG-29, but it can fix it for the MiG-19. They can repair any body part of the MiG-29, but they are not able to repair the engine. They can make an allison 250 engine, but they can't do anything with a MiG-21 engine.
The key industries for the DPRK are materials science, engine physics, locators, and their allies - which is why so many students from the DPRK study it. When they master this they will need a number of equipment that they have already purchased and are purchasing. Then they will be able to lift many of the landed machines. However, this will increase the number of dangerous cars by only 80%.
But time does not only work for the DPRK. The thing is that the DPRK has mastered the production of serious missiles that raise the air defense radius of the DPRK from 35 to 75 kilometers. And it's a matter of time when there will be more.
Already at the current moment, the ROK itself is not capable of suppressing the air defense of the DPRK without serious losses. However, for a coalition with a powerful fleet and a ground segment, which will increase the concentration of means of destroying air defense by five times, it will allow blocking the DPRK within the territory of the North, preventing a breakthrough through the DMZ not only by land but also by air.
The forces of the coalition, in the form in which it is possible, if there is a war within a year from the current one, it is enough to destroy aircraft in three days of fighting, helicopters in a month, to suppress air defense in a month in safe combat mode. However, this requires massive missile strikes throughout the territory of the DPRK. For which the RK does not have enough strength on its own. A much higher saturation of air defense in the region is needed - which would allow the safe operation of flights by the aviation of the South and the Coalition. Otherwise, there will be losses.