North Korea presented its own kamikaze drones for the first time
26 August, 2024 Kim Jong Un near North Korean drones similar to Harop and Hero, August 24, 2024. Photo credits: KCNA North Korea has released footage of tests of its own attack drones, similar to Israel's Harop and Hero.
Reuters reported on this. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Drone Institute of North Korea's Academy of Defence Sciences on Saturday and viewed a successful test of drones. North Korea's news agency KCNA said that the "kamikaze drones" had successfully completed the test, correctly identifying and destroying designated targets after flying along different preset routes.
Kim Jong Un near North Korean drones similar to Harop and Hero, August 24, 2024. Photo credits: KCNA
Kim called for the production of more suicide drones to be used in tactical infantry and special operation units, such as underwater suicide attack drones, as well as strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones.
Testing of drones
One of the two unmanned systems presented was a loitering munition with X-shaped wings and a length of about 1.5-2 meters.
It repeats the concept of the famous Israeli Hero-120 drone by Uvision. The drone is launched from a transport and launch container using an explosive powder charge, after which its own propeller engine is switched on in the air. The specifications of the drone are unknown.
However, according to the released footage, it is controlled by an operator via a television channel with signal transmission by radio. The photo shows a drone hitting a model of a South Korean K2 Black Panther tank, which may indicate that the drone is intended to fight enemy armored vehicles.
Test of a North Korean loitering munition, August 24, 2024. Photo credits: KCNA
Another unmanned system presented was a strike drone that visually replicates Israel's Harop long-range strategic strike drone.
The drone has similar dimensions and, similar to the original, is launched using a solid rocket booster, after which its own propeller is turned on. Its range is unknown, but Harop has a flight range of up to 1000 kilometers.
North Korea tests a Harop-like loitering munition on August 24, 2024.
Photo credits: KCNA
Militarnyi previously reported that North Korea was developing its own long-range radar detection aircraft based on the IL-76 transport aircraft.