Korean People's Army Air Force (KPAAF) • 朝鮮人民軍空軍 / XAIRFORCES

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk) Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces. DPKR ACTIVE 1,106,000 Personnel. (Army 950,000 Navy 46,000 Air 110,000) Paramilitary 189,000.Terms of service Army 5–12 years, Navy 5–10 years, Air Force 3–4 years, followed by compulsory part-time service to age 40. Thereafter service in the Worker/Peasant Red Guard to age 60.
RESERVE 4,700,000 (Army 600,000, Armed Forces 4,035,000 Navy 65,000), Paramilitary 3,500,000 Reservists are assigned to units (see also Paramilitary)

KOREAN PEOPLE’S ARMY AIR FORCE (KPAAF) • 朝鮮人民軍空軍
Korean People's Air Force 110,000 personnel. 6 Air Divisions (3 combat, 2 transport, 1 training):

lst, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions (combat) responsible for N, E and S air defense sectors respectively.
8th Air Division (training) responsible for NE sector.
33 regiments (11 fighter/ground attack, 2 bomber, 7 helicopter, 7 transport, 6 training) plus 3 independent air battalions (recce/EW, test and evaluation, naval support).
The Air Force controls the national airline. Approx 70 full time/contingency air bases.

Flying hours 20 hrs/year on ac.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
(incl AD units)

• AIRCRAFT 645 combat capable. Total 1033 Aircrafts.

Strategic Bombardments 3 (lt) regt with 80 BBR ac:
80 Harbin H-5 (13 IL-28 Beagle Operational) Bomber;

Multi-role & Air Defence (Interceptor) 4 regt with 100 Ftr ac:
Multi-role & Air Space Defence 1 regt (3 sqns) with 40 Ftr ac:
10 VPK Mapo MiG-29SE Fulcrum-C;
25 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A Fulcrum-A;
5 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29UB-12 Fulcrum-B;
Multi-role & Air Defence Fighter 3 regt (6 sqns) with 60 Multi-role & Ftr ac:
36 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23ML Flogger-G;
10 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23P Flogger;
4 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23UB Flogger-C;
5 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG MiG-23UM Flogger-E;

Air Defence (Interceptor) 7 regt with 261 Ftr ac:
Air Defence Fighter 6 regt (11 sqns) with 154 MiG-21/F-7 ac:
1 regt (2 sqns) with 40 Chengdu F-7B Airguard ;
1 regt (1 sqn) with 34 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21bis Fishbed-N (Ex-Kazakh; 6 more confiscated in Azerbaijan while being delivered)
1 regt (1 sqn) with 15 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21PFM Fishbed-F;
2 regt (5 sqns) with 55 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21PF Fishbed-D;
1 regt (1 sqn) with 10 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C;
Air Defence Fighter 1 regt (3 sqns) with 107 MiG-17F:
107 Shenyang J-5 (F-5 Fresco, MiG-17F Fresco-C Operational Conversion Units);

Fighter Ground Attack 6 regt with 152 FGA ac:
Fighter Ground Attack 1 regt (2 sqns) with 36 Su-25:
32 Sukhoi Su-25K Frogfoot-A (ground attack);
4 Sukhoi Su-25UBK Frogfoot-A (operational conversion);
Fighter Ground Attack 1 regt (1 sqn) with 18 Su-7:
18 Sukhoi Su-7BMK Fittrer-A;
Fighter Ground Attack 3 regt (8 sqns) with 98 MiG-19S:
4 regt with 98 Shenyang J-6 (F-6 Farmer-B, MiG-19S Farmer-C);
Ground Attack 1 regt (3 sqns) with 40 A-5:
40 Nanchang Q-51A Fantan-A (A-5)

Reconnaissance 1 sqn with 2 Recce ac:
1 Tupolev Tu-134DR-3
1 Antonov An-24 AEW

Transport regts with 277 Tpt ac:
Sniper brigades deep into ROK rear areas (possibly grounded);
Air Transport Regiment / Air Koryo / Heavy Transport 13 Hy Tpt ac:
4 Tupolev Tu-154B Careless ;
2 Tupolev Tu-134B-3 Crusty;
1 Tupolev Tu-204-300;
1 Tupolev Tu-204-100B;
2 Ilyushin IL-76T Candid-B;
1 Ilyushin IL-76MD Candid-A;
2 Ilyushin IL-62M Classic-18;
Tactical Transport 1 sqn with 14 Tac Tpt ac:
7 Antonov An-24 Coke (Air Koryo);
5 Ilyushin IL-14M Crate;
2 Ilyushin IL-18D Coot-A;
LightTransport 12 sqns with 250 Lt Tpt ac (Antonov An-2 Colt to infiltrate 2 AQir Force)
110 Shijazhuang Y-5 Colt;
140 NanChang Y-5 Colt

Training regts with 161 Trg ac:
Advanced Flying Training 3 Operational Conversion Units 52 Adv Trg ac:
25 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21UM Mongol-B;
11 Mikoyan Gurevitch MiG-21U Mongol-A;
12 Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros;
4 Sukhoi Su-7U Moujik;
Intermediate Flying Training 8 Operational Conversion Units with 55 Int Trg ac:
20 Shenyang FT-5 Fresco (MiG-17UTI)
35 FT-2 (Mikoyan Gurevitch MiG-15UTI Midget) ;
Basic Flying Training 4 sqn with 54 Trg ac:
10 NanChang CJ-5 (Yak-18)
44 NanChang CJ-6A Max (BT-6/Yak-18)

Test and Evaluation Regiment:
Harbin H-5R;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21FL Fishbed-E;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21M Fishbed-J;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21MA Fishbed-J;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21MF Fishbed-J;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21PF Fishbed-D;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21PFMA Fishbed-F;
Chengdu FT-7 Airguard ;
Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-19S Farmer-C;
NanChang BT-6A Max;
Li-2G Cab (Douglas C-47 Dakota)

• HELICOPTER 25 Atk hel capable. Total 373 Helicopters

Anti-Armour Attack & Assault 1 hel regt with (3 sqns) 20 Atk/Aslt hel:
20 Mil Mi-24D Hind-D;

Naval support & Anti-Submarine Warfare 1 sqn with 5 ASW hel:
5 Mil Mi-14PL Haze-C

Heavy-lift transport 1 sqn with 4 Hy Tpt hel::
4 Mil Mi-26 Halo;

VIP Flight Helicopter Regiment 10 VIP Hel:
10 Mil Mi-17 Hip-H

Support Hel 2 regt with 60 Spt hel::
40 Mil Mi-17 Hip-H (Mil Mi-8MT/TV);
20 Mil Mi-8 Hip-C;

Utility & Medium-lift Transport Hel 5 regt with 187 Utl/Tpt hel
(Some Helicopter Naval support):
48 Harbin Z-5 (Mil Mi-4A Hound-A);
139 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite*

Utility 87 Utl hel (Exported illegally by US company via FRG company; Hughes-500C and Hughes-500D version):
10 Hughes Helicopters 300C*;
17 Hughes MD 500D Defender;
60 Hughes MD 500E Defender

* Trainer Aircraft/ Helicopter

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
• UAV • Reconnaissance
Shmel
MQM-107D (U.S. Local Copies)

• MISSILES
ASM AT-3 Sagger
AAM AA-10 Alamo; AA-2 Atoll; AA-7 Apex; AA-8 Aphid;
SRAAM 1800+: AA-11 Archer; 450 R-60/AA-8 Aphid (For MiG-29), 150 R-13R/AA-2C Atoll-C (For MiG-21PFM), 390 R-13S/AA-2 Atoll (For MiG-21PFM ), 492 R-13S/AA-2 Atoll (For MiG-21F), PL-5; PL-7
BVRAAM 500: 50 R-27/AA-10 Alamo, 200 R-23R/T/AA-7 Apex (For MiG-29), 250 R-23R/T/AA-7 Apex (For MiG-23MF)

• RADAR
Air search radar
10 P-3/Dumbo, 10 Cross Slot;
2 Big Back (For usw with SA-5c SAM systems);
3 ST-68/Tin Shield;
20 P-10/Knife Rest;
5 P-20 Token;
Fire control radar
4 SON-9/Fire Can (Ex-Kazakh; for use with KS-19 100mm AA guns)
320 SON-9/Fire Can (For use with KS-19 100mm, M-1939 85mm and S-60 57mm AA guns)
3 Top Bow (For use with SM-4-1 130mm guns)

Air Force Air Defence Systems
AD • SAM: 19 SAM brigades (2 SA-5 Gammon; 2 SA-3 Goa; 15 SA-2 Guideline) with 340 launchers/3,400+ missiles, many thousands of SA-14 Gremlin/SA-16 Gimlet/SA-7 Grail (Possible estern systems, reverseengineered Stinger)

TOWED 340+ Surface-to-air missile Launchers:
1950+ S-75 Dvina/SA-2 Guideline (179+ Launcher); 300+ 5V27/S-125M/SA-3B Goa (133 Launcher);
STATIC/SHELTER (4 Air defense, static,)
75+ S-200 Angara/ SA-5 Gammon (38 Launcher) SAM system
MANPAD 3,050+ Air Defense, man portable
SA-7 Grail/SA-14 Gremlin/SA-16 Gimlet (Possible Western systems, reverse-engineered Stinger)

• FACILITIES
North Korean Air Force Main Headquarters: HQ Located at Pyongyang City

North Korea Airfields and Airbases Organisation:
Changjin-up,Cheagun-dong,Chongjin, Hwangju, Hwangsuwon-ni, Hyesan, Hyonni, Kaech'on, Kangdong, Kilchu, Koksan, Kowon, Kwail/Pungchon, Kwaksan, Kyongsong, Manpo, Onchon-up, Orang, Packho, Panghyon/Naamsi, Pukchang East, Pukchang West, Pyongyang,Pyongyang/Mirim, Pyongyang/Sunan, Samjangkol, Samjiyon, Sochon, Sondok , Sunchon, Taechon, Taetan, Toksan, Uiju, Wonsan, Yongpo-ri

Air Koryo is the civil disguise of the Air Transport Regiment from Pyongyang. The fleet includes this Tu154B taken at Beijing, China.

North Korea 1st Air Combat Division
Kaech'on Air Base (Division headquarter):
35th Air Regiment
2 squadrons: MiG-23

Kwaksan Air Base:
Air Regiment
Squadrons: Y-5

Onchon-up Air Base:
57th Regiment:
3 Squadrons: F-6.

Panghyon/Naamsi Air Base:
Air Regiment
3 squadrons: Y-5
Operational Conversion Unit: FT-5

Pukchang East Air Base:
Air Transport Regiment
Helicopter squadron: Mi-26, Mi-8, H500E

Pukchang West Air Base:
60th Air Regiment
2 squadrons: MiG-23ML, MiG-23UB
1 squadron: MiG-21
Operational Conversion Unit: MiG-15UTI

Sochon Air Base:
Air Regiment
Squadron: Mi-2, Mi-4

Sunchon Air Base:
57th Regiment
3 squadrons: MiG-29, MiG-29UB
55th Air Regiment
2 squadrons: Su-25K
Operational Conversion Unit: Su-25UBK, Su-7BMK

Uiju (ZKUJ) Air Base:
24th Air Regiment
3 squadrons: H-5

North Korean 2nd Air Combat Division
Changjin-up Air Base:
Air Regiment
Squadron: H-5

Hwangsuwon-ni Air Base:
72nd Air Regiment
3 squadrons: A-5
Operational Conversion Unit: FT-5

Manpo Air Base:
Air Regiment
Squadron: Y-5

Orang Air Base:
Air Regiment
3 squadrons: H-5

Toksan Air Base (Division headquarter):
56th Air Regiment
3 squadrons: F-7, MiG-21bis, MiG-21PF

Air Defence Fighter Air Base:
Air Regiment
Squadron: F-7/MiG-21
58th Air Regiment
2 squadrons: MiG-23ML, MiG-23UB

Wonsan Air Base:
46th Air Regiment
2 squadrons: F-6
1 squadron: MiG-21
Operational Conversion Unit: FT-5

North Korean 3rd Air Combat Division
Hwangju Air Base (Division headquarter):
Air Regiment
3 squadrons: MiG-21PF
Operational Conversion Unit: MiG-21U

Hyonni Air Base:
4th or 11th Air Regiment
3 squadrons: F-5
Operational Conversion Unit: FT-5
Confirmation about the operational status is required.

Koksan Air Base:
86th Air Regiment
3 squadrons: MiG-21PF
Operational Conversion Unit: MiG-21U
A few F-5 and F-6 seem to be still in use

Kwail/Pungchon Air Base:
Air Regiment
3 squadrons: F-6
Operational Conversion Unit: MiG-19, FT-5

Taetan Air Base:
4th or 11th Air Regiment
3 squadrons: F-5
Operational Conversion Unit: FT-5

North Korean 5th Transport Division
Four Air Transport Air bases
Air Regiments
4 Air Transport Squadrons of four unknown air bases: Y-5

Pyongyang/Mirim Air Base:
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Y-5, Mi-2

Pyongyang/Sunan (ZKPY) Airfield:
Air Transport Regiment / Air Koryo: Tu-134B/-154B/-204-300, IL-62/-76MD, An-24

Sondok Air Base:
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Y-5, Li-2

Taechon Air Base:
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Y-5

Yongpo-ri Air Base:
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Y-5

North Korean 6th Transport Division
Cheagun-dong Air Base (Division headquarter):
Air Regiment
1 squadron: Mi-2

Kowon Airfield:
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Mi-8/-17, Z-5 (Mi-4)

Packhon Airfield
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Mi-8/-17, Z-5 (Mi-4)
Squadron: Mi-2

Samjangkol Air Base:
Air Transport Regiment
Squadron: Mi-2

First Mi-24 Base:
Regiment each squadron: Mi-24

Second Mi-24 Base:
Regiment each squadron: Mi-24

?64 Air Regiment Base:
?64 Air Regiment: H500D/E

North Korean 8th Aviation Training Division
Chongjin Air Base (Division headquarter):
Kimcha'ek Air Force Academy (Kimchaek AFB =ZKKC)
1 squadron: BT-6

Hyesan Air Base:
Training Aviation Regiment
1 squadron: An-2, Y-5

Kangdong Air Base:
Training Aviation Regiment
1 squadron: BT-6

Kilchu Air Base:
Training Aviation Regiment
1 squadron: Mi-2

Samjiyon Air Base:
Training Aviation Regiment
1 squadron: MiG-15UTI

Training Aviation Base:
Training Aviation Regiment
1 squadron: MiG-15UTI

North Korean 8th Regiments directly under AF HQ

Changjin-up Airfield:
Naval support/Anti-submarine warfare Regiment: An-2, Mi-14PL, Mi-4, Mi-2

Kyongsong Air Base ( Division headquarters)
Kyongsong Flight Officers School (Unit 797 Regiment): BT-6
1 squadron: MiG-21UTI

Pyongyang Airfield:
Kyongsong Flight Officers School (Unit 797 Regiment): BT-6

Pyongyang-City Downtown Helipad:
VIP flight Regiment: Mi-17

Test and Evaluation Air Base:
Reconnaissance/Electronic Warfare Regiment
Some Squadrons: MiG-21, MiG-19, MiG-17, H-5R,An-24, An-2,
Test and Evaluation Regiment: various Airplanes

Note: North Korea (Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of) Airport Statistics has 37 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4), 42 airports with unpaved runways (2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 8), and 22 heliports.