North Korea Reportedly Mass-Producing Drones Similar to Israeli Harop

North Korea appears to have begun serial production of loitering munitions that bear a strong resemblance to the Israeli Harop drone, manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). This observation stems from an analysis of photographs released by the North Korean state news agency KCNA following Kim Jong Un's visit to military industry facilities between September 16-18. The images depict dozens of identical aircraft with a distinctive configuration, a similarity also noted by South Korean military experts and NK Pro specialists.

The Israeli publication "Globes" suggests that North Korea may have developed its drone through reverse engineering of the Harop, a process where a captured or acquired sample is disassembled and studied to create a domestic version. However, there is no concrete evidence that North Korea obtained an actual Israeli Harop to copy. "Globes" speculates that components might have reached North Korea through a supply chain involving Armenia and Iran, where these types of munitions could have been used by Azerbaijan and Israel respectively, though this remains unconfirmed.

North Korea first displayed a drone of this type in 2024. The Harop is described as a long-range loitering munition that functions as both a reconnaissance UAV and a guided weapon. According to IAI, it can stay airborne for up to nine hours, autonomously search for targets using an electro-optical system, and requires operator confirmation for an attack. The drone is launched from a container and can strike targets from various angles.

It remains unclear how the North Korean system compares to the Harop in terms of range, sensors, communication capabilities, or other features; external similarity alone does not guarantee comparable performance. This is not the first instance of North Korean drones resembling foreign systems. In 2024, alongside the Harop-like drone, North Korea also showcased a loitering munition similar to Israel's HERO-400 from UVision. Additionally, North Korean reconnaissance-strike drones like the Saebyeol-4 and Saebyeol-9 visually replicate the American RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, although experts from CSIS have cautioned that similar external designs do not necessarily imply equivalent internal technology.

During his recent visit to defense facilities, Kim Jong Un ordered an expansion of production capacities and the increased integration of artificial intelligence into offensive and defensive systems. In November 2024, he had already mandated the mass production of combat drones, identifying them as a critical component of modern warfare. KCNA reports that the current modernization program also includes artillery automation and an increased output of new weaponry.