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North Korea Equips Reverse-Engineered US Drones With Replicas of Hellfire Missiles

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Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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North Korea Equips Reverse-Engineered US Drones With Replicas of Hellfire Missiles
Former Russian General Staff commander Sergei Shoigy with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un near North Korean drone “Morning Star 4”, a copy of US-made MQ-9 Reaper. (Source: North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun)

North Korea equipped its unmanned aerial systems with reverse-engineered versions of American Hellfire missiles, said US Army general Patrick Costello at the 2024 United States Army Association conference.

North Korea’s newly developed drones, which bear a striking resemblance to US MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk, are now outfitted with missile systems similar to the US-made AGM-114 Hellfire.

North Korean drone “Morning Star-4”. (Source: Korean Central News Agency)
North Korean drone “Morning Star-4”. (Source: Korean Central News Agency)
US-made Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system on display on March 03, 2023 in Avalon, Australia. (Source: Getty Images)
US-made Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system on display on March 03, 2023 in Avalon, Australia. (Source: Getty Images)

The missiles, known for their guided air-to-surface capabilities, were observed in North Korean military drills, raising alarms about Pyongyang’s growing technological capabilities.

These revelations follow North Korea’s July 2023 parade, where two drones resembling American models were showcased.

Videos released by North Korean state media displayed a drone launching a missile closely mirroring the Hellfire.

North Korean Saetbyol-9 UAV with reverve-engeneered US Hellifire missiles loaded. (Source: open source)
North Korean Saetbyol-9 UAV with reverve-engeneered US Hellifire missiles loaded. (Source: open source)
An MQ-9 Reaper flies at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. (Source: Getty Images)
An MQ-9 Reaper flies at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. (Source: Getty Images)

US intelligence now believes that these drones were developed using reverse-engineered American technologies, possibly acquired through espionage or recovered from battlefields.

North Korean clone on US MQ-9 Reaper fires a copy of US Hellfire air-to-surface missile during North Korean army drills. (Source: open source)
North Korean clone on US MQ-9 Reaper fires a copy of US Hellfire air-to-surface missile during North Korean army drills. (Source: open source)

Experts are concerned about the broader implications of North Korea’s advances, particularly given the fact of its military ties with Russia. There are growing fears that these technologies could bolster Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine, as well as pose a serious threat in future conflicts, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

Earlier, in a recent analysis of missiles supplied by North Korea to Russia for attacks on Ukraine found components made by Western companies, said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha.

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