North Korea Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

[Valiant 1002]

Also are there any drawing /images showing the Tuman and Amnok classes side by side, to make out clearly the differences between them, sizes, displacement, weapons fit etc.? To me it looks like on the www they are constantly mixing them up, and even say Tuman is a 3,000 ton Krivak hull.

Amnok on the left, Tuman on the right.

They are actually the same size, although their original roles were not. Amnok was designed as a missile frigate, while Tuman was originally designed with a huge helicopter deck – presumably for the anti-submarine role.

Apparently they realized that would be extremely inefficient so they converted it back into a missile frigate - essentially turning it into a "reinvented" Amnok, with a different forward superstructure.

 

[Valiant 1002]

And on another subject, any other images/news about what me and few other folks believe to be a medium range SAM (see link below)? Could this be a variant of the Pyoljjy-1/2 but without the booster, or perhaps like i believe @Valiant1002 mentioned previously, a SAM version of the apparent BVR AAM seen in 2021 iirc? Incidentally, i do agree and would be sensible for DPRK to create an IRIS type SAM system from the BVR and WVR AAMs shown back then.

The North Korean Navy could also clearly benefit if North Korea successfully develops a medium-to-long range air defense system based on indigenous AAMs.

Smaller systems could fit on smaller hulls, like the Israeli frigates/corvettes that can carry the medium-to-long range Barak missile. Building smaller hulls would benefit North Korean shipbuilders, who are generally better at building small and medium-sized ships.

 

[Stealthflanker]

Kinda curious on state of current North Korean industries, particularly electronics. Were they able to manufacture some fundamental components like say, radar transmitters ? tubes or solid states.

 

[Valiant 1002]

Kinda curious on state of current North Korean industries, particularly electronics. Were they able to manufacture some fundamental components like say, radar transmitters ? tubes or solid states.

Technically yes. As in a secret trip by the Myanmar military delegation in 2008/2009, they were taken to a radar factory. As you might guess, they were older models, based on vacuum tube technology.

But that probably doesn't matter. As long as they have good relations with Russia and China, as long as they can still send students and engineers there, anything is possible. They can learn and copy the technology of these two countries, receive technology transfer, or simply import the whole product with a local name to fool the world (and no one can prove it).

 

[mack8]

Technically yes. As in a secret trip by the Myanmar military delegation in 2008/2009, they were taken to a radar factory. As you might guess, they were older models, based on vacuum tube technology.
View attachment 146170
But that probably doesn't matter. As long as they have good relations with Russia and China, as long as they can still send students and engineers there, anything is possible. They can learn and copy the technology of these two countries, receive technology transfer, or simply import the whole product with a local name to fool the world (and no one can prove it).

That was in 2008/2009, but considering that since then the DPRK defence industry went through practically a revolution in acquiring the know-how (internally and probably to some extent externally sourced), designing and delivering advanced and capable weapon systems that yield little to similar products from other advanced MICs in the world, it will be reasonable to assume that their microelectronics industry experienced a similar revolution. For example just systems like DRPK Tor/Pyoljjy-3 and the long range Pyoljjy-1/2 show they mastered at least PESA radar tech, which is nothing to sniff at, and i wouldn't be surprised if those SAMs have AESA radars.

 

[mack8]

I hate giving link to NKnews, but seems DPRK is working on an improved variant of the Saetbyol-4 UAV, with longer wingspan (and i might add as a personal speculation, perhaps an indigenous turbofan rather than a non-AB R-13/25 or maybe R-95?)

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[Valiant 1002]

I hate giving link to NKnews, but seems DPRK is working on an improved variant of the Saetbyol-4 UAV, with longer wingspan (and i might add as a personal speculation, perhaps an indigenous turbofan rather than a non-AB R-13/25 or maybe R-95?)

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Does the longer wingspan imply a greater range and/or payload?

A domestic, reliable, long-life version of Soviet-era subsonic jet engines would be a good starting point for a future trainer/attack aircraft. And it would give North Korean aviation engineers the experience they need to pursue more advanced technology.

I hate giving link to NKnews

But why?

 

[Valiant 1002]

The destroyer/frigate that North Korea is building will likely be comparable to China's Type 054A class, after comparing the length and width of the ship.

It will be much more heavily armed though, considering it will have fixed phased array radars on the superstructure and two VLSs on the bow and stern.

 

[mack8]

Does the longer wingspan imply a greater range and/or payload?

A domestic, reliable, long-life version of Soviet-era subsonic jet engines would be a good starting point for a future trainer/attack aircraft. And it would give North Korean aviation engineers the experience they need to pursue more advanced technology.

But why?

NKnews is openly promoting anti-DPRK propaganda, hence i wouldn't want to give clicks to them if i can avoid it.
As to the Saetbyol-4B, as per the article the upgrade seems to mimic that of the RQ-4A to RQ-4B, so more range, perhaps more fuel etc.

 

[Valiant 1002]

NKnews is openly promoting anti-DPRK propaganda, hence i wouldn't want to give clicks to them if i can avoid it.

I mean, we can totally play the pragmatic game here. Just filter out what's useful and leave the rest of the junk out.

As I often read articles about North Korean weapons on Namu, I have the same feeling as you. But if it says something right, then it's useful.