Contents

1. Key Facts
2. History
   1. Narrative Summary
   2. Key Dates
   3. Current Status
   4. Future Plans
3. Markings
   1. National Insignia
   2. Aircraft Serial Numbers
   3. Unit/Base Codes
4. Aircraft
   1. Aircraft Designations
   2. Current Aircraft Inventory
   3. All-Time Aircraft Used List
   4. Aircraft MAYBE Used
5. Organisation
   1. Main Headquarters
   2. Organisational Structure
   3. Current Order of Battle
   4. Historical Orders of Battle
   5. All-Time Flying Units List
6. Air Bases
   1. Current Air Bases
   2. All-Time Air Bases Used List
7. More Information
   1. Books
   2. Magazines
   3. Websites

Air Force History

Air Force Timeline

The NKPAF is suffering from an increasingly rapid decline in operational effectivenss. A shortage of AVGAS has grounded many of the piston-engined aircraft operated by the NKPAF. A severe limit on flying hours for most pilots has resulted in a significant erosion of flying skills. This was demonstrated during a major mobilisation exercise conducted in late 2010 which was principally characterised by poor flying and poor organisation.

The NKPAF is desperate to acquire some new up-to-date combat aircraft, to begin replacing its ageing fleet of Chinese copies. In recent years it has been rebuffed by both Russia and China.



Current — Historical

North Korean military aircraft carry two or three digit numbers. The 2-digit numbers are Soviet-style tactical codes allocated by the operating unit. The 3-digit numbers appear to be non-duplicated serial numbers based on the individual aircraft’s construction number – in the same manner as for several former Warsaw Pact air forces.

Coding system not used.



None – Manufacturers designations used.

Table of Current Service Aircraft

Alphabetical Order — Chronological Order

Aircraft Reported in Service



Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, Pyongyang.

The NKPAF is organised into Air Divisions, each with several Air Regiments.

Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Order of Battle for June 1950
Historical Order of Battle for 1958
Historical Order of Battle for 1975
Historical Order of Battle for 1992

Units List



The NKPAF has available a large number of large and small air bases around the country. Some of these permanently host NKPAF units.

In addition to the main bases, here are also a number of smaller airfields around the country which are sometimes used by the Air Force.
Military Air Bases Listing – to be added.



North Korea Military Aviation Bibliography – to be added.

World Air Forces Directory 2004/05. Ian Caroll. Mach III Publishing, 2004.

Airlines of Asia since 1920. R E G Davies. Putnam Aeronautical Books, London, 1997.

MiG-29 Fulcrum Multi-role Fighter. Yefim Gordon. Airlife, 1999.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 The Soviet Union’s Long-lived Korean War Fighter. Yefim Gordon. Aerofax, 2001.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 The Soviet Union’s Jet Fighter of the Fifties. Yefim Gordon. Aerofax, 2002.

Ilyushin Il-28 Beagle Light Attack Bomber. Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Komissarov. Airlife, 2002.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 The Soviet Union’s First Production Supersonic Fighter. Yefim Gordon. Aerofax, 2003.

Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot. Yefim Gordon & Alan Dawes. Airlife Publishing, Marlborough, 2004.

Antonov An-12 Cub. Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Komissarov. Crowood Aviation Press, 2004.

Ilyushin Il-2 and Il-10 Shturmovik. Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Komissarov. Crowood Aviation Press, 2004.

Lisunov Li-2 The Soviet DC-3. Yefim Gordon, Dmitriy Komissarov & Sergey Komissarov. Midland Publishing, Hinckley, England, 2006.

Mikoyan MiG-21. Yefim Gordon, Keith Dexter and Dmitriy Komissarov. Midland Publishing, Hinckley, 2008.

U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Stephen Harding. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen USA, 1997.

Soviet Transports. Peter Hillman, et al. Dutch Aviation Society & The Aviation Hobby Shop TAHS, West Drayton, 2004.

Yakovlev Yak-9U. P. Robert Panek, Mushroom Model Publications, Poland, 2006.

Aerospace Encyclopedia of World Air Forces. David Willis (Editor). Aerospace Publishing Ltd, London, 1999.

Air Enthusiast No. 12. T-33 and F-94… …more stars in the Lockheed galaxy by Richard P. Hallion

Air Enthusiast No. 6. F-82: KILLERS OVER KOREA by Warren Thompson

Air Enthusiast No. 17. The MiG Killers of Korea by Warren Thompson

Wings of Fame, Vol 1. Fighter Combat over Korea part 1: First Kills by Warren Thompson

Wings of Fame, Vol 2. Fighter Combat over Korea Part 2: Jet Aces by Warren Thompson

Wings of Fame, Vol 3. Fighter Combat over Korea Part 3: A Year of MiGs by Warren Thompson

Wings of Fame, Vol 4. Fighter Combat over Korea Part 4: The Final Year by Warren Thompson

Korean People’s Army Air Force

wikipedia: Korean People’s Air Force

Scramble: North Korean Air Forces

DPRL – Air Force, 2007-09-12

The North Korean Air Force by Google Earth, 2007-09-12

Ki-54, Ki-55, Ki-86 – Ex-Japanese Aircraft in North Korean Air Force, 2008-04-28

Post-war use of IJN/IJAAF aircraft in Korea, 2008-04-28

Portfolio: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Air Force, 2004-09-22

US evaluation of DPRKAF aircraft, 2011-11-27

North Korean Air Force

North Korean Air Force Left To Rot

This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates a variety of Mil helicopters in the VIP, passenger transport and cargo transport roles.



Subordinate Units

one helicopter squadron with Mi-4
one helicopter squadron with Mi-8/Mi-17
one helicopter squadron with Mi-26



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates in the bomber role.



Subordinate Units

three squadrons with Il-28/H-5



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

The 60th Aviation Regiment operates in the air defence role for the 1st Aviation Division.



Subordinate Units

three squadrons with MiG-23



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates the MiG-21 or MiG-19 in the air defence role.



Subordinate Units

three squadrons



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates the MiG-21 or MiG-19 in the air defence role.



Subordinate Units

three squadrons



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

The 203rd Aviation Regiment operates the MiG-21 or MiG-19 in the air defence role. The unit number is out of sequence with all other known regiment numbers, and may commemorate a Soviet or Chinese unit from the Korean War.



Subordinate Units

three squadrons



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

The 11th Aviation Regiment operates MiG-21 or MiG-19 aircraft in the air defence role.



Subordinate Units

three squadrons



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.

This small unidentified Aviation Unit operates in the utility transport role.



Subordinate Units

None



Aircraft

Unit Markings

Main Bases

Photographs

None currently available.



More Information

References

• Jane’s World Air Forces

Other Sources

To be added.