Kim Jong Un Sends Stark Warning with Saetbyol-4, North Korea’s Bold Clone of U.S. Global Hawk
In a further notable development, Pyongyang also introduced its first-ever Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, a pivotal capability designed to simultaneously coordinate and oversee air, maritime, and ground operations in real-time, greatly enhancing North Korea’s strategic command and control capabilities.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Marking a significant leap forward in its strategic aerial capabilities, North Korea has officially showcased its high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), designated the Saetbyol-4, remarkably similar in aerodynamic design to the renowned U.S.-built RQ-4B Global Hawk.
The unveiling, initially previewed in 2023, underscores Pyongyang’s determination to enhance its strategic reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities amidst intensifying geopolitical tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un personally inspected the Saetbyol-4 drone, alongside an array of “suicide drones” reportedly incorporating cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology, demonstrating Pyongyang’s growing sophistication in unmanned and autonomous combat systems.
In a further notable development, Pyongyang also introduced its first-ever Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, a pivotal capability designed to simultaneously coordinate and oversee air, maritime, and ground operations in real-time, greatly enhancing North Korea’s strategic command and control capabilities.
The Saetbyol-4, translating to “Morning Star-4,” was prominently featured at the 2023 Defence Exhibition in Pyongyang, attended by several high-ranking international dignitaries, notably Russia’s Defence Minister at the time, Sergei Shoigu.
The drone’s presence at the defence showcase captured significant regional and international attention, not only because of its conspicuous similarity to the American Global Hawk but also due to its strategic implications in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
Its advanced ISR capabilities present considerable strategic implications in monitoring activities on the Korean Peninsula and neighboring territories.
Saetbyol-4The high altitude long-endurance RQ-4B “Global Hawk” by the US.
Sporting a wingspan of approximately 35 meters, high-aspect-ratio wings for increased endurance, and a distinctive V-tail, the Saetbyol-4 clearly signals North Korea’s ambition to enter an exclusive club of nations capable of deploying strategic drones for long-range operations.
This represents a remarkable feat for a nation subject to stringent international sanctions, demonstrating North Korea’s resolve in independently advancing sophisticated military technology.
KCNA’s publication of images of the newly operational AEW&C aircraft underscored its operational significance, showing Kim personally inspecting and directing military officers onboard.
Airborne early-warning systems of this kind provide crucial tactical advantages by rapidly detecting inbound aircraft, naval vessels, vehicles, and missile threats, thus offering vital early-warning information essential for effective defensive and offensive countermeasures.
Reports from September of the previous year indicated significant advancements by North Korea in modifying a Russian-made Ilyushin IL-76 Candid transport aircraft, originally supplied by Russia in the early 1990s, into an AEW&C platform.
According to the respected British think tank, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), modification works were progressing swiftly at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport, with recent satellite imagery from early March confirming the near completion of the aircraft’s transformation.
North Korea newly-unveiled AEWC aircraft
Interestingly, defence analysts suggest that North Korea’s AEW&C aircraft incorporates technology influenced more strongly by China and Israel than Russia.
The distinctive painted radome suggests a fixed radar system configuration, closely paralleling the Chinese Shaanxi KJ-2000 aircraft—a joint Russo-Israeli developmental project known in the late 1990s as the A-50AI (or A-50I).
While the core airframe originates from Russia’s robust Il-76 transport aircraft, Israel notably contributed the advanced EL/M-205 Phalcon AESA radar system, featuring a tri-antenna array capable of full 360-degree threat coverage, distinguishing it markedly from Russia’s indigenous A-50 aircraft employing the rotating Shmel radar.
In its report, KCNA highlighted Kim Jong Un’s comprehensive evaluation of the drone’s “military effectiveness and strategic value,” alongside the operational potential of new AI-powered suicide drones.
Interior configuration of North Korea’s Airborne Early Warning Aircraft
“The test proved the innovative capability of this new strategic reconnaissance drone type, showcasing detection capabilities capable of tracking and monitoring multiple strategic targets and enemy movements on land and at sea,” KCNA cited.
Kim further underscored the imperative strategic priority to advance unmanned aerial systems and artificial intelligence, clearly reflecting North Korea’s intention to invest significantly in these emerging military technologies to enhance its strategic deterrence capabilities amidst shifting regional power dynamics.
