The airbase where North Korea is developing next-generation drones
Images taken above the Panghyon Airbase show the construction of large hangars and new designs of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), visible on runways and taxiways.
The airbase, some 90 miles north of Pyongyang, has become the 'motherland for large UAVs', a new report by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) quoted a source as saying.
Intelligence reports indicate that the nearby 6 January Factory is manufacturing the North's most advanced new UAV, the Saetybol-class aircraft, which bear an uncanny resemblance to the American RQ-4 Global Hawk drone.
First unveiled at the Pyongyang weapons exhibition in 2023, the aircraft – whose name translates as 'morning star' – has a wingspan of more than 110 feet and the distinctive bulbous nose and V-shaped tail that are consistent with the Global Hawk.
The CSIS report says it is not possible to determine how many drones North Korea intends to build.
It cautions, however, 'If North Korea successfully develops and deploys a Saetbyol-4 class strategic reconnaissance UAV along the demilitarised zone with South Korea and within its air defence identification zone, it will significantly increase the scope and timeliness of the nation's situational awareness in and around the Korean Peninsula'.
The satellite images, captured on March 28, also show the construction of seven 130-feet-wide hangars at the base that dwarf fighter aircraft parked on a nearby runway.
Other images show the rapid development of the site over the past five months as well as the Panghyon aircraft factory.
The report also contains high-altitude photographs of a number of UAVs on taxiways or preparing to take off from a runway.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service reported in March that North Korean troops stationed in Russia are undergoing training in modern drone warfare, including the use of strike and reconnaissance UAV operations.
The CSIS report states that while the impact of the training and the level of cooperation are not clear, it does suggest that North Korea is making a 'concerted effort to enhance its overall UAV capabilities, likely incorporating Russian battlefield experience'.
Analysis of the airfield images comes after Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, oversaw tests of 'suicide attack drones' equipped with AI technology at the base, state media reported on March 27.
Kim was pictured instructing scientists and engineers at the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex and monitored drills involving both reconnaissance and attack drones.
Images released by the Korea Central News Agency showed a quadcopter dropping a bomb on a target as well as suicide drones striking military vehicles. One of the targets looks like a mock-up of a US Stryker combat vehicle while another resembles a South Korean mobile missile system.
The KCNA quoted Kim as saying, 'Our special means developed with up-to-date technology would play a big role in monitoring the potential threats and collecting vital intelligence' and he demanded that 'top priority' be placed on the development of more capable drones.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
More outages, aging infrastructure, and a bicoastal dysfunction: BofA warns America's grid is 30%-46% ‘beyond its useful life'
The electrical grid is the backbone of modern America. It powers powers everything from homes and hospitals to data centers and electric vehicles. But according to a detailed analysis from Bank of America Institute, the grid is straining under the pressures of surging demand, chronically aging infrastructure, and a growing east-west divide, leaving 31% of transmission lines and an even more alarming 46% of distribution infrastructure 'beyond its useful life.' The implications are stark: more outages, higher prices, and a heightened risk of dysfunction at both ends of the grid. The most alarming fact from BofA's deep dive is just how much of the grid is overdue for replacement. In 2024, 67% of utility spending on transmission and distribution—$63 billion—went to replacements and upgrades, dwarfing the $32 billion allocated to new lines and substations. This lopsided investment signals a network fighting to keep up, not just with basic maintenance, but with the exponential strain of new users and devices. The consequences are already being felt by everyday Americans: power outages are occurring more frequently, with transmission failures climbing steadily. Data from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) points to a clear decline in grid reliability, leaving many consumers with a system less dependable than the one their parents knew at the start of the millennium. Put simply, BofA says, 'grid reliability is worse today than in the early 2000s.' A surge in demand—from EVs to AI Why is demand rising so sharply? The BofA report identifies four main forces pushing load growth into uncharted territory, projecting that overall U.S. electrical demand will grow at a 2.5% compound annual rate through 2035, far outpacing the 0.5% annual growth seen in the previous decade. First is building electrification. As cities across states such as California, Massachusetts, and Colorado ban fossil fuels in new construction, homeowners are using far more electricity for heating and hot water. Second is the boom in data centers, super-charged by the thirsty AI sector. In a world driven by cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and streaming services, data centers are emerging as 'super-consumers' of energy. These facilities already account for up to 2% of global electricity, but BofA projects them growing into the 15%-23% range annually by 2030. Thirdly, after years of offshoring, American manufacturing is in comeback mode. Driven by domestic and federal policy support, construction spending on factory infrastructure hit $234 billion in 2024—a 21% jump over the prior year, and double the average of previous years. Finally, electric vehicles are changing the game for both residential and public grid demand. Nearly 5 million EVs are already on American roads, a figure that represents 2% of the total passenger vehicle fleet. BofA notes EVs were 9.7% of new vehicle sales in 2024 and, even if this figure remains flat, the number of EVs in use will rise at a roughly 15% compound annual growth rate to 22 million on the road by 2030. Not only are these vehicles likely to be charged in residential areas, which have little spare capacity on substations, but BofA notes more public EV charging stations will be needed, and 'that will require significant grid investments.' If every US household went 'all-electric'—replacing gas-powered heating, hot water, and vehicles—the monthly consumption would triple, from 875kWh to 2,803kWh. Such a seismic shift would overwhelm large swaths of the existing grid without massive upgrades. Geography matters: West makes, East takes A less-discussed but critical issue is the split in production and consumption between the east coast, the west coast, and the southwest. While the grid is a national asset, its parts don't always match up with population centers. Most renewable energy is generated in states including Texas, California, and Oklahoma, and their neighbors. These 'energy-producing states' deliver over half the country's wind and solar power, yet the consumption hot spots are overwhelmingly on the East Coast. This geographic mismatch means long-distance transmission lines are under mounting pressure. Many are aging, and few are being replaced at the pace required. Long-distance, high-voltage transmission lines—already old and unreliable—must bridge this gap, compounding the strain as demand grows. Outages and reliability: Why Americans should care The net result of all these factors? More outages and less reliability. Even as utilities invest almost $100 billion a year in basic infrastructure, BofA's analysis shows customer satisfaction is likely to hit new lows if the current pace of replacement and expansion isn't accelerated. Transmission outages have become more frequent, and the resiliency of the grid—especially against weather events or cyber-attacks—is declining. Notably, the Department of Energy's National Transmission Needs Study warns U.S. transmission capacity must grow 64% by 2040 to meet 'moderate' load forecasts, assuming the country continues targeting ambitious clean energy adoption. While national prices for electricity have stayed mostly stable after inflation adjustments, California offers a glimpse of what happens when infrastructure stress meets rising costs. Over the last seven years, retail electricity prices in the Golden State have soared by 68%, now averaging nearly twice the national norm. This has led to a 5% drop in demand as consumers and businesses adjust, highlighting the real-world elasticity of energy use in response to price spikes and reliability concerns. The political response: deregulation vs. investment Policymakers are keenly aware of the tightrope the grid is now walking. On the first day of his term, President Trump declared a national energy emergency, aimed at streamlining infrastructure permitting and accelerating grid modernization—especially for traditional energy projects like natural gas. While this marked a pivot from the climate-focused policies of the previous administration, funding for the grid remains bipartisan, in BofA's view: the Grid Deployment Office, formed under President Biden, awarded $14.5 billion in grants through 2023 and 2024, matched by $36.9 billion in private investment. Artificial intelligence, which powers everything from chatbots to autonomous vehicles, poses a unique challenge. The International Energy Agency estimates that AI servers used around 63TWh of electricity in 2024, or 15% of total data center demand—a number anticipated to surpass 300TWh by 2030 as the technology scales. But most data up till now has been used on AI training, whereas running models, also known as 'AI inference' or Gen Z's well-known love of talking to their chatbots all day as a kind of intimate companion, is projected to overtake it in coming years. The verdict from BofA's research is clear: without sweeping upgrades and expansion, America's grid will buckle under the weight of growing demand and obsolete hardware. 'Gigawatt-scale growth' will necessitate increased investment not just in new capacity, but in modernizing transmission and distribution channels. Until then, expect more outages—and a widening gap between where power is produced and where it's needed most. For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Why Intel Stock Skyrocketed This Week
Key Points Last week, President Trump called for the resignation of Intel's CEO, citing security concerns from his investment ties to the Chinese government. Intel's stock first jumped earlier in the week on the news that its CEO would meet Trump at the White House. Yesterday, shares went up after news broke that the administration is considering taking a stake in Intel. 10 stocks we like better than Intel › Shares of Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) are soaring this week, up 24.1% as of 3:13 p.m. ET. The spike comes as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) was up 1%, and the Nasdaq-100 was up 0.5%. The struggling chipmaker's stock is jumping after its CEO met with Trump at the White House; rumors are spreading that the administration may take a stake in the company. A high-stakes meeting goes well After Trump called on CEO Lip-Bu Tan last week to resign because of his alleged ties to the Chinese government, a meeting was arranged. The White House visit appears to have gone quite well, with Trump saying Tan has an "amazing story." Now it's being reported that the Trump administration is considering taking a stake in the troubled but strategically important chipmaker. The deal would partially hinge on Intel continuing with its recently abandoned plans to open a manufacturing hub in Ohio. Intel has real strategic importance Despite its struggles in artificial intelligence (AI), having lost significant ground to Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, Intel remains strategically important due to its significant domestic manufacturing capabilities, something its rivals lack. Semiconductor fabrication capacity within the U.S. is not something that Trump wants to reduce, one of the few areas in which this administration and its predecessor are in alignment. Intel's path to relevance in the uber-crucial AI market is unclear. However, given the company's strategic importance, I still think Intel is a good pick for investors with an appetite for risk. Should you invest $1,000 in Intel right now? Before you buy stock in Intel, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Intel wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $663,630!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,115,695!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,071% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short August 2025 $24 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Intel Stock Skyrocketed This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Upturn
2 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Hennessey Unveils 1-of-1 Manual Venom F5 Hypercar with 2,031 Horsepower
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Hennessey establishes 'Maverick' division to produce exceptional customer commissions 1-of-1 Venom F5 LF is most expensive, complex, and highest spec Hennessey hypercar ever Special model features all-new carbon tub, all-new gated six-speed manual transmission, Cocoa Brown exposed carbon fiber, totally new interior layout, horology-inspired switchgear, and 'Evolution' aero, suspension, and comfort enhancements Monterey Car Week also sees global public debut for new, 2,031 bhp Venom F5 Revolution Evolution production car Images: New 1-of-1 manual Hennessey Venom F5 Revolution Evolution LF Video: John Hennessey overview and drive of Venom F5 Revolution Evolution LF MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hennessey Special Vehicles, the Texas-based manufacturer of America's Hypercar, has revealed the Venom F5 Revolution LF – a 1-of-1 customer commission created by Hennessey's new bespoke customer commission division: 'Maverick'. Unveiled today (August 15) at The Quail, the unique new model is built as a symbol of individuality, innovation, and American pride, the bespoke LF model becomes the most personal, driver centric, analog, and engaging Venom F5 to date. Passionate collector and American Entrepreneur, Louis Florey personally specified every bespoke element, from the unique aerodynamic package to the distinctive Cocoa Brown exposed carbon fiber. Working with Hennessey's new 'Maverick' customer commission division, the 1-of-1 model sets a new benchmark for America's Hypercar and demonstrates the capabilities of the Texan firm's world-class designers and engineers. Featuring an all-new carbon fiber tub, the commission pairs Hennessey's latest Evolution package with an open-top F5 in track-spec 'Revolution' configuration. The design is based on the already exclusive 'Stealth Series', which sees exposed carbon fiber flow from nose to tail, broadening to envelop the cockpit before narrowing again beneath the 290 mm-high rear wing. Tinting the carbon fiber Coco Brown, opting for brilliant River Sand Metallic paint – the color of rich champagne, and adding a body-color tri-stripe, then specifying a six-speed gated manual transmission, instantly makes this the most unique and complex F5 to-date. John Hennessey, company founder and CEO: 'When our customers have a dream, we work to make their dreams come true – exceeding customer expectations is a badge of honor. Our new 'Maverick' division enables our customers to take our American Hypercar to a totally new dimension. I see it as the ultimate expression of the American Dream!' Previewing bodywork elements from the forthcoming Venom F5 Evolution, the LF features a wealth of aerodynamic revisions from a new front splitter, reshaped dive planes, re-sculpted fender louvres, a new rear deck with integrated lip spoiler, and a significantly taller rear wing. Paired with new suspension and Hennessey's new 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 Fury engine with 2,031 bhp, the aerodynamic enhancements ensure high-speed poise on road or track, enabling extreme performance with the roof on or off. Inside, the LF debuts a new generation carbon monocoque. Hennessey's 'XCell_2' tub improves stiffness, seating ergonomics, and pedal box geometry, with repositioned footwells offering space for the third pedal and promoting a more positive driving position. The LF sees machined aluminum pedals completed with laser-etched Hennessey logos and moved to a new floor-mounted configuration. The interior is entirely reimagined with analog connection a guiding principle. A new center console showcases a H-pattern gated shifter – milled from solid aluminum. Above the shifter sit side-by side air vents, with a key 'holster' immediately below, which receives the F5 key as part of the ignition process. Each switch, toggle, and rotary controller has been reengineered with horology-grade detailing – including luminous-infill switchgear, which absorbs ambient light during the day and glows softly at night. Even the parking brake lever is machined to deliver a bolt-action feel, underscoring the obsessive craftsmanship throughout the cabin. Nathan Malinick, Hennessey's Director of Design: 'A common point of celebration for our customers is how the F5 delivers unmatched driving intensity. We built on this prominent theme with Louis Florey, identifying mechanical, sensory, and design-led ways of deepening the connection between F5 and driver. 'The LF demonstrates how far we'll go to deliver an outstanding customer experience and it's the perfect launchpad for our new bespoke 'Maverick' division. It's where engineering meets imagination, and where design fuses with passion – there can be no greater way to connect driver with the most raw, powerful, and intense celebration of internal combustion.' The Maverick division, officially launched with this commission, will allow a small number of customers to work hand-in-hand with the Hennessey team to create uniquely personal Venom F5 builds. From custom paints, new mechanical elements, and exposed carbon finishes to personalized interiors and even reimagined bodywork, the program reflects Hennessey's commitment to celebrating the individuality of its customers – while staying true to Hennessey's pioneering spirit and Texan independence. As the most expensive and complex F5 to date, the Venom F5 Revolution LF will stand alone as a 1-of-1 commission. However, the ethos it represents will carry forward into future Maverick projects – each as bold, personal, and uncompromising as the customers who seek their own American Dream. Monterey Car Week also saw the global public debut for the new 2,031 bhp Venom F5 Revolution Evolution production car. The F5 Evolution is the world's most powerful internal combustion road car and the next generation of Venom F5. All future F5 builds will feature Evolution enhancements as standard, while owners of the 32 customer cars already delivered can upgrade their model to the Evolution specification. Following an extensive development program, this next generation of America's Hypercar features a comprehensive set of updates that boost overall performance, handling, and comfort. The new 'Venom F5 Evolution' has increased power and torque, updated aerodynamics for improved downforce, new mode-adaptive suspension for enhanced handling and ride quality, new interior, plus an optional touring exhaust system and touring seats. For more information about Hennessey's Venom F5 models – including Coupe, Roadster, and Revolution variants – or to inquire about the Maverick bespoke division, visit or contact the company at +1 979 885 1300. ImagesClick the link below or email for images of the 1-of-1 Venom F5 LF:
