Home Americas

Airframe With Zero Tech! Experts Decode N.Korea’s MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk ‘Duplicate Drones’

North Korea recently showcased its latest technological developments in the military arena, revealing two new drone models that look strikingly similar to US-manufactured RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

The UAVs were officially unveiled at the Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023, held on July 26, in the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu

Framed photographs showcased in front of the drone models depict flight testing of the UAVs, including flights conducted above Pyongyang. North Korea introduced these UAVs to the global audience via its state media, also sharing captivating footage of the drones in action.

Furthermore, both drones, as part of the country’s latest military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, performed flyovers of Pyongyang. 

The country also disclosed the official designations of the new drones, which are Morning Star-4 (샛별-4, or Saetbyol-4 in Korean) for the Global Hawk-type and Morning Star-9 (샛별-9, or Saetbyol-9) for the Reaper-type.




North Korea Unveils Look-Alike Global Hawk, Reaper Drones
North Korea unveils two new drone models that resemble the renowned US-manufactured RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

This revelation is particularly intriguing because the assigned designations align with the same numerical format as their US counterparts, the RQ-4 and MQ-y. 

The satellite images first spotted the two unmanned aerial vehicles in June. The Global Hawk-type UAV closely mirrors the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk and its variants in terms of both appearance and size.

The drone’s wingspan measures approximately 115ft (35m) and features a v-tail and air intake, design elements that closely resemble those found in US drones. 

While specific details about the drone’s specifications and mission remain elusive, its similarity to the RQ-4 family of UAVs suggests a high-altitude flight profile, possibly geared for extended distances. 

On the other hand, the Reaper-type drone displayed alongside the Global Hawk lookalike has a smaller wingspan and was showcased with different types of missiles, including a Hellfire-like weapon. 

Photos featuring this UAV were also displayed at the Exhibition, with one image showing Kim Jong Un observing the UAV on the runway, potentially taken during flight testing. 

Beside this drone had a placard that seemed to hold technical information about the aircraft, but North Korean media deliberately blurred the content, leaving its specifications undisclosed.

North Korea’s New Drones

The precise capabilities of these North Korean drones remain shrouded in uncertainty. However, experts speaking to EurAsian Times suggest that it is evident that these drones may not match the advanced features of their US counterparts.

Stephen Pendergast, a former Systems Engineer at General Atomics ASI, told The EurAsian Times: “There is not much trick to replicating the Reaper UAV airframe. Many Reapers have been lost, and the design is not classified or export controlled by GA-ASI… so nefarious individuals can acquire it.”

Pendergast explained that duplicating the sensors and software of the US drones is challenging due to tight export controls.

Read More

Exit mobile version