North Korean 'kamikaze' drones: What they could send to Russia, their capabilities

Defense Express writes about this.

North Korea is reportedly preparing to send military personnel and weapons, including kamikaze drones, to Russia. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, quoted by Yonhap, stated that Pyongyang is "fully committed" to strengthening military ties with Moscow.

Recent tests by North Korea revealed drones that appear to be imitations of Israeli models, specifically the Harop by Israel Aerospace Industries and the Hero 400 by Uvision. Defense Express notes that while the images of the drones were blurred, their resemblance to these Israeli systems was clear.

The Hero 400, for instance, has a warhead capacity of 8 kg, a range exceeding 150 km, and a flight duration of 2 hours. North Korea’s version, launched from containers like the Russian Lancet, is likely less advanced due to lower-quality components, presumed to be of Chinese origin.

The Harop, reportedly capable of a 200 km range, 6-hour flight, and carrying a 20 kg warhead, has a unique radar-seeking system for targeting radars. However, its North Korean copy appears repurposed for tank strikes, signaling possible differences in design and use.

Another North Korean drone, with an original X-wing design, was seen targeting unarmored vehicles, suggesting limited range and payload.

The capabilities of these North Korean drones are likely diminished compared to the originals, Defense Express noted, citing the potential use of subpar components.

Beyond technical performance, the scale of drone supplies from North Korea to Russia remains unclear. Reliable data on North Korea’s military-industrial production is scarce, leaving questions about their ability to sustain significant exports unanswered.