Myanmar’s military boosts air power as it recaptures a key town

Myanmar’s military has acquired new combat aircraft to strengthen its air capabilities amid escalating efforts to reclaim territory from resistance forces in the country’s ongoing civil conflict, state media reported Friday.

While the exact number and models of aircraft weren’t specified in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, military-released photographs indicate the acquisition includes four jet fighters, among them two Russian-made Su-30 aircraft, which are widely utilized for bombing missions and combat operations.

This marks the sixth procurement of new aircraft since the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, an action that sparked widespread armed resistance throughout Myanmar.

Russia and China continue to be principal supporters and arms suppliers to Myanmar’s military regime, while Western nations have implemented sanctions prohibiting arms sales to the junta as part of broader punitive measures against the coup leaders.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who heads Myanmar’s ruling military government, emphasized the necessity of a robust air force to “protect the state interest effectively.” According to state media, he highlighted the air force’s demonstrated capabilities in previous counter-insurgency operations, anti-terrorism missions, and efforts to repel external threats.

The military’s enhanced air power comes at a critical juncture in the civil conflict. The junta has lost control of significant portions of the country to pro-democracy People’s Defense Forces and ethnic armed organizations. Recent months have seen intensified military campaigns to recapture lost territory, with some battlefield successes, but also increasing reports of civilian casualties resulting from airstrikes.

The opposition National Unity Government (NUG), which coordinates resistance to military rule, and the Karen National Union, an ethnic armed group, both reported that between March 5-7, approximately 30-40 people were killed when the military deployed drones, jet fighters, and artillery during ground operations in villages in the lower-central Bago region.

In a separate incident, the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic militia based in western Rakhine state, claimed that 116 captured army personnel, including officers detained at a facility in Ann township, perished when military aircraft conducted aerial attacks on Sunday. The military has not acknowledged either of these incidents, and independent verification remains challenging due to access restrictions.

NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt told the Associated Press that the commissioning of new aircraft is intended to facilitate continued airstrikes on civilian areas. “They are targeting civilians and continuing to carry out mass killings. It is important for the international community not to turn a blind eye to this reality,” he stated.

In a strategic development, the military has reportedly regained control of the ancient town of Tagaung in northern Mandalay region following weeks of offensive operations. Located approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, Tagaung had been under the control of NUG-aligned forces since August 2024.

The recapture of Tagaung, which was the last NUG-controlled town in Mandalay Region, represents a significant setback for opposition groups. Nay Phone Latt acknowledged that resistance forces withdrew from the town after the military launched an offensive with substantial troop numbers and heavy weaponry, though he noted that opposition fighters still maintain positions in surrounding areas.

The conflict in Myanmar has created a humanitarian crisis with millions displaced internally and across borders, while international diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation have shown limited progress since the coup more than three years ago.