The MiG-29 fighter jet is a fourth-generation front-line support aircraft introduced by the Soviet Union in the early 1980s.
Due to its design specifications, the MiG-29's payload capacity and combat radius were limited even at the time.
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union exported the MiG-29 series to Eastern Europe and other allied nations.
Although the Soviet Union actively promoted the MiG-29 to China in the late 1980s, China ultimately chose the more versatile Su-27 fighter.
Objectively speaking, the MiG-29's maneuverability is quite impressive, making it suitable for smaller countries to secure air superiority.
The MiG-29 has a maximum range of about 1,400 kilometers, a combat radius of 700 kilometers, and a maximum payload capacity of approximately 4 tons.
In recent years, Russia has introduced models such as the MiG-29K and MiG-29M, further enhancing its overall performance.
The MiG-29 is one of the core assets of the North Korean Air Force.
However, for countries with larger territories, the MiG-29's range and combat radius are insufficient.
For example, China's J-10 series has a maximum range of 2,500 kilometers even without external fuel tanks, which is 1,000 kilometers more than the MiG-29.
Currently, the North Korean Air Force possesses over 30 MiG-29 fighter jets, which are considered its ace force.
The North Korean Air Force comprises six aviation divisions, including three fighter divisions, two transport divisions, and one training division.
The organizational structure of North Korea's military is heavily influenced by Japan, making the division format common in both North and South Korea.
With more than 30 MiG-29 jets, these aircraft hold a significant position in North Korea's aerial capabilities.
Globally, there are not many countries capable of independently developing, designing, and mass-producing modern fighter jets.
India's Tejas and South Korea's KF-21 both rely on technological assistance from other countries.
North Korea's aviation technology is relatively weak, rendering it incapable of independently developing and producing modern fighter jets.
North Korea's air force primarily uses Soviet-designed aircraft. As of 2023, North Korea has over 100 J-5 and MiG-17 jets, over 100 J-6 and MiG-19 jets, over 100 MiG-21 and J-7 jets, more than 30 MiG-23ML jets, over 30 Su-25 ground attack aircraft, and more than 30 MiG-29 jets.
Despite the large size of North Korea's air force, with hundreds of aircraft, only the 30+ MiG-29 jets have modern capabilities.
North Korea has a longstanding connection with the MiG-29. In the late 1980s, North Korea imported the MiG-29 from the Soviet Union and established an assembly line with Soviet assistance.
However, after the Soviet Union collapsed, North Korea's MiG-29 production plans stalled, preventing the import of new jets. Instead, North Korea has had to source second-hand parts through various channels to maintain its current fleet.
Due to the limited number of MiG-29s, North Korea also has to sustain its fleet of older aircraft.
In July 2013, the North Korean cargo ship "Chong Chon Gang" was detained in Panama. Inspectors found jet engines for MiG-21s, indicating North Korea's efforts to maintain its MiG-21 fleet.
The MiG-29s in North Korea are mostly early models imported from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. They can only use R-27 and R-73 missiles and are incapable of using the newer R-77 missiles, further limiting their combat effectiveness.
Considering their service timeline, North Korea's MiG-29s have been reaching their retirement age since 2015, but due to limited resources, North Korea continues to keep them operational.
The South Korean Air Force, on the other hand, has a substantial fleet of modern aircraft, including 62 F-15s, over 180 F-16s, more than 120 F-4s, and over 190 F-5s, with some F-15s upgraded to 4.5 generation standards.
The North Korean Air Force faces challenges due to a lack of aviation fuel and critical parts, impacting pilot training time and aircraft maintenance.
The South Korean Air Force is relatively strong, with the "4.75 generation" KF-21 fighter entering small-batch production in 2024.
North Korea's air force development is bottlenecked, lacking the capability to design and produce advanced fighters and being unable to import them from abroad.
Even if North Korea had the funds to purchase new aircraft, external blockades and sanctions make imports extremely difficult.
Currently, North Korea is forced to maintain its fleet of older models like the J-6 and MiG-19 due to a lack of replacement options.
India faces a similar situation, needing to replace a large number of MiG-21 jets and thus is focusing on developing the indigenous Tejas fighter.
North Korea, however, struggles with updating its aviation capabilities due to the lack of replacement channels and models for its outdated aircraft.
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