Why aircraft alone cannot modernize North Korea's air force

How much could Chinese support improve the Korean People's Army Air Force?

Chinese equipment could help, but useful modernisation would also require missiles, facilities, training, funding and enough skilled personnel to operate the force.

The aircraft mix discussed includes relatively small numbers of MiG-29s and Su-25s alongside much older MiG-derived types. China could supply newer equipment if the governments agreed, but willingness to buy and the capacity to operate it remain separate questions. New missiles, training facilities, development and testing would add substantially to the cost of aircraft. One participant also questions whether enough trained personnel could operate modern systems in useful numbers. The An-2 transport provides a different example: an old aircraft can remain reliable and useful, while still illustrating how long legacy equipment stays in service. No complete modernisation budget or independently verified readiness assessment is produced.