North Korea
North Korean Air Force
History
Narrative Summary
Key Dates
Current Status
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.
Future Plans
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.
Markings
National Insignia
Current — Historical
Aircraft Serial Numbers
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.
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
None – Manufacturers designations used.
Current Aircraft Inventory
Table of Current Service Aircraft
All-Time Aircraft Used List
All-Time Table of Aircraft Used
Aircraft MAYBE Used
Organisation
Main Headquarters
Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, Pyongyang.
Organisational Structure
The NKPAF is organised into Air Divisions, each with several Air Regiments.
Current Order of Battle
Table of Current Order of Battle
Historical Orders 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
All-Time Flying Units List
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
The NKPAF has available a large number of large and small air bases around the country. Some of these permanently host NKPAF units.
All-Time Air Bases Used List
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.
More Information
Books
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.
Magazines
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
Websites
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
unidentified Helicopter Regiment M
History
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
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi-4 | ?? – Present | ||
| Mi-8 | ?? – Present | ||
| Mi-17 | ?? – Present | ||
| Mi-26 | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| Yonggang-ni AB | ?? – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.
unidentified Aviation Regiment E
History
This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates in the bomber role.
Subordinate Units
three squadrons with Il-28/H-5
Aircraft
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il-28 | ?? – Present | ||
| H-5 | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| Changjin-up AB | Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.
60th Aviation Regiment
History
The 60th Aviation Regiment operates in the air defence role for the 1st Aviation Division.
Subordinate Units
three squadrons with MiG-23
Aircraft
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiG-23 | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| Pukch’ang AB | ?? – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.
unidentified Aviation Regiment G
History
This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates the MiG-21 or MiG-19 in the air defence role.
Subordinate Units
three squadrons
Aircraft
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| ?? | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| ?? AB | ?? – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.
unidentified Aviation Regiment F
History
This unidentified Aviation Regiment operates the MiG-21 or MiG-19 in the air defence role.
Subordinate Units
three squadrons
Aircraft
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| ?? | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| ?? AB | ?? – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.
203rd Aviation Regiment
History
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
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| ?? | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| ?? AB | ?? – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.
11th Aviation Regiment
History
The 11th Aviation Regiment operates MiG-21 or MiG-19 aircraft in the air defence role.
Subordinate Units
three squadrons
Aircraft
| Type | Qty | Service | Example Serials |
|---|---|---|---|
| ?? | ?? – Present |
Unit Markings
| Figure 1 |
|---|
| To be added |
Main Bases
| Base | Duration |
|---|---|
| ? | ? |
| ? | ? |
| ?? AB | ?? – Present |
Photographs
None currently available.
More Information
References
- Jane’s World Air Forces
Other Sources
To be added.