Drone Warfare in Myanmar: Repercussions and More

It is well known that the military of Myanmar, locally called Tatmadaw, orchestrated a nationwide coup 3 years ago.

It was done just to stop President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi from assuming their government duties in the parliament the next day. The country has been in an undeclared war with its people since that day.

While the military of the nation is banking on the superiority of its traditional fixed-wing aircraft, the anti-Junta forces and ethnic armed groups are making the most of drone technology. Organisations like the Three Brotherhood Alliance have taken the route of using drones to strike back at the military. They have been using drone technology to not only map the territories for attack but also assess the troop strength of Tatmadaw. These groups are then dismantling the regime outposts and stakeout groups with the help of their drone techs and tools. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have played a significant role in this warfare.

From Use to Misuse: Drone Technology

The usual cases of drone use vary from videography and rescue-relief works to agricultural uses and surveillance. Some anti-Junta groups are using 3D printing and their Chinese connections to get their hands on the latest drones that are being modified as weapons and being misused to a great extent. Hence, it is a challenge for the ruling military organisation to figure out who is placing the ‘deliver at the doorstep’ order. This person could hold the potential to weaponize this tech and use it against the current Junta or Tatmadaw.

Due to the ease of buying these drones online and the convenience of assembling them at home, these are open for exploitation. The anti-Junta groups are also using online platforms to make videos of their drone assembling and attacks, and spreading them over the internet to openly raise funds.

If the media reports and real encounters of soldiers are to be believed, the army is also operating multi-rotor commercial drones like those of agricultural ones. It is speculated that advanced UAVs will be used when the situation turns critical.

End Note

The concern for civilians’ security is of the utmost importance at this moment. They are stuck in the middle of a war zone that is escalating with the drone upgrade attack. But how safe are they in their own country? How is it going to affect the neighbouring nations? To know other potential implications of the situation, read here.