North Korea appears to be testing a larger version of its high-altitude reconnaissance drone modeled after the U.S. RQ-4 Global Hawk, according to recent satellite imagery.
NK Pro, a premium service of North Korea-focused outlet NK News, and Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on Feb. 21 that satellite images from commercial provider Planet Labs showed a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) outside a hangar at North Korea’s Panghyon Airbase.
The drone closely resembles the previously unveiled Saetbyul-4 reconnaissance UAV but features a wingspan extended to 35 to 40 meters, up from the original model. The Saetbyul-4 itself was designed as a replica of the Global Hawk, and the new version adopts a similar color scheme to its U.S. counterpart.
RFA noted that the size upgrade mirrors the U.S. transition from the RQ-4A to the RQ-4B, which increased the Global Hawk’s wingspan to 39.8 meters.
The Global Hawk is a satellite-grade reconnaissance drone capable of identifying objects as small as 0.3 meters from an altitude of 20 kilometers. It can conduct missions lasting 38 to 42 hours with an operational range of roughly 3,000 kilometers, enabling surveillance well beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Satellite images also revealed that North Korea began installing roofs on seven hangars at Panghyon Airbase between Feb. 14 and 17. By Feb. 20, two hangars had completed red roofs, while roof frames were visible on all seven structures.
According to NK Pro, the construction suggests preparations for the deployment of the new reconnaissance drone. The hangars, equipped with vertical sliding doors, would be large enough to accommodate UAVs with a 40-meter wingspan. The U.S. employs similarly sized hangars for its Global Hawk fleet.
Meanwhile, Japan’s NHK reported on Feb. 8, citing sources familiar with North Korea-Russia relations, that Pyongyang and Moscow had agreed to jointly develop and produce various types of drones using Russian technology.
The report added that North Korea is expected to begin mass production of UAVs this year as part of its deepening military cooperation with Russia.
