Korean People's Army Air Force

The North Korean Air Force operates as a crucial component of the country's armed forces, albeit one characterized by stark limitations. It serves primarily as a defensive arm, focused on airspace protection, close air support for ground forces, and limited strategic bombing capabilities. Its inventory is largely composed of aging Soviet-era aircraft such as MiG-21, MiG-23, and MiG-29, with the addition of some older Chinese models. The technological obsolescence of these platforms significantly reduces their effectiveness in modern aerial warfare.

Despite its limitations, the North Korean Air Force serves specific strategic functions. It is closely integrated with the country's anti-aircraft artillery and ground-based missile defense systems, effectively acting as one layer in a multi-tiered air defense network. Moreover, the air force can contribute to various asymmetric and conventional strategies aimed at deterring or repelling an invasion. It could, for example, be employed to disrupt enemy supply lines or to provide close air support for its significantly larger ground forces.

In terms of training and readiness, information is sparse and often speculative, but it's generally accepted that the North Korean Air Force faces severe constraints. Fuel shortages, outdated hardware, and limited access to modern training methods likely contribute to reduced operational readiness and efficacy. Pilots are thought to have low flight hours, and the air force reportedly suffers from maintenance issues, further exacerbating its operational limitations.

Regionally, the air force is largely dwarfed by the capabilities of South Korea and the United States, both of which maintain a significant military presence on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. and South Korean air forces are equipped with modern, sophisticated aircraft and have the benefit of advanced training and tactics. This places the North Korean Air Force at a severe disadvantage in any potential conflict, and its primary value may be as a deterrent or as part of a larger, integrated defense strategy that includes ground forces and ballistic missiles.

Strategically, North Korea's focus has been more on developing its missile program and less on its conventional air force. The country has invested heavily in ballistic missiles, which could serve the strategic functions of deterrence, first-strike capability, and retaliation. The missile program arguably compensates for the air force's limitations, providing North Korea with a means to project power and deter aggression.

Key facts

Official Name	Korean People's Army Air Force
Local Name	공군 (Gonggun)
Country	🇰🇵 North Korea
World rank	#11
Active aircrafts	947 (as of 2024)
Aircrafts on order	0
Roundel

Number of active aircrafts by type

Aircraft type	Active
Combat aircrafts	572
Helicopters	205
Training	169
Transport	1

Aircrafts most used by North Korean air forces

Aircraft	Active	Type
MiG-17 Fresco	241	Soviet jet fighter, renowned for significant roles during the Vietnam War, utilized for interception and ground-attack missions.
J-7 Fishcan	120	Chinese jet fighter, notable for usage in the late Cold War era, widely deployed in the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis.
MiG-19 Farmer	97	Soviet fighter jet, operational during the Cold War, notably used in various conflicts like the Vietnam and Indo-Pakistan Wars.
MD-500	84	American light helicopter, renowned during the Cold War era, predominantly deployed for law enforcement and utility applications.
Il-28 Beagle	80	Soviet jet bomber, operational during the Cold War, extensively utilized in military conflicts in Asia and Africa.
MiG-23 Flogger	56	Soviet third-generation jet fighter, notable for its service during the Cold War, often deployed in interceptor and ground-attack roles.
Mi-2 Hoplite	48	Soviet light utility helicopter, broadly deployed in Eastern Europe, renowned for agricultural, rescue and military tasks since the 1960s.
Mi-8 Hip	41	Soviet multipurpose helicopter, prevalent during the Cold War, extensively utilized for transport, combat and humanitarian operations globally.
MiG-29 Fulcrum	35	Soviet twin-engine fighter jet, notable in late Cold War clashes, widely exported and integral to various aerial engagements globally.
MiG-15 Fagot	34	Soviet jet fighter-bomber, famous for its role in the Korean War, widely deployed for air superiority and interception missions.

Full inventory in 2024