Myanmar resistance under pressure as junta’s arsenal of drones grows

It was during the early months of Operations 1027, the anti-regime offensive launched in late 2023, that Myanmar’s military junta began learning the hard way just how effective drones can be as weapons of war. As its losses mounted, the impact of this versatile and relatively inexpensive technology became increasingly clear to the regime. In admitting to the military’s many defeats, junta chief Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing attributed them at least in part to what he called “military-grade drones.” Since then, the regime has wasted no time in integrating UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles, into its aerial arsenal of jet fighters, attack helicopters, and even motorised paragliders. The regime’s rapid expansion of its use of drones has yielded significant results. According to resistance sources, the junta has deployed UAVs extensively in two of its most active combat zones—in the fight to retain control of Bhamo in southern Kachin State, and in its effort to retake Nawnghkio in northern Shan State. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies have had Bhamo in their sights since last December. A month into their offensive, they managed to capture the nearby town of Mansi; but so far Bhamo, with its many military bases, remains out of reach, largely because of the junta’s increasing use of drones, according to KIA spokesperson Col. Naw Bu. The regime regularly deploys drones to target the KIA-led forces seeking to take control of Bhamo, he told Myanmar Now, adding that the military’s drone capabilities have improved dramatically over the past year. “It can be said that the junta has managed to balance its use of aircraft and drones. They deploy reconnaissance drones to identify potential targets. In areas where drones cannot strike directly, they are used to locate targets, and then jet fighters are called in for the actual attack,” said a fighter engaged in the Bhamo offensive. “Previously, we didn’t need to worry much about the junta’s drones and focused on their airstrikes. But in the battle for Bhamo, drone attacks have become a serious concern,” he added. Like other resistance fighters, he also spoke of the presence of Chinese and Russian military experts at the junta’s Military Operations Command 21 headquarters in Bhamo, where they are allegedly providing short-term training, including in the use of drones. These claims have not been independently verified. According to resistance sources, junta drones are now equipped with small anti-jamming devices, as well as night vision and thermal imaging cameras. The regime also has a huge advantage in terms of the sheer number of drones that it is able to deploy. While the affordability of UAVs has made them extremely valuable in the fight against a vastly better-equipped adversary, resistance forces say they can’t match the junta in its capacity to purchase large quantities from suppliers in Russia, Belarus, and China. Among the models that the regime has been using are the DJI Mavic 3 Pro and DJI Matrice 350 RTK. Both are manufactured by China's SZ DJI Technology Company, which describes them as multi-purpose—designed for photography, video, and agricultural applications—and capable of flying at least 20km. According to a senior resistance official, these drones can also be used to serve other purposes. “They’re fitted with software that records their latitude and longitude, which is then entered into a computer program to guide their attacks,” the official told Myanmar Now. “The Matrice 350 flew alongside the drone that conducted the bombing.” In September 2024, a junta drone that crashed in rebel-controlled Ayadaw Township in Sagaing Region was identified as a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) model, which does not require a runway and is typically used for surveillance. It was manufactured by Ahead X, a Chinese company. The drone is estimated to cost over US$20,000 and can remain airborne for up to eight hours. The junta is also reportedly deploying other Chinese-made UAVs in combat, including YFT-CZ55RC fixed-wing hybrid drones, Agras T20 multi-purpose drones, and FLH models. Meanwhile, resistance forces are struggling to keep pace. On May 20, KIA troops reportedly used first-person view (FPV) drones to shoot down at least two junta helicopters in Bhamo. A video of the attack showed a drone striking the top of a helicopter’s propeller hub.

Myanmar resistance under pressure as junta’s arsenal of drones grows

The regime has stepped up its reliance on drones after seeing their opponents use them to devastating effect

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