Myanmar’s military regime is expanding its air attacks on civilian targets in central parts of the country by using paramotors alongside its fleet of jet fighters, helicopter gunships and Y12 airplanes.
The Irrawaddy has learned that the junta has conducted over a dozen paramotor bombings – mostly targeting civilians in Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe regions – since December 25, killing around two dozen civilians including children. The bombings also destroyed numerous houses and livestock.
Former military sergeant Naung Yoe, who served in the Flying Training School’s armament department at the junta’s air force base in Meiktila, spoke with The Irrawaddy about the regime’s paramotor bombings.
Sergeant Naung Yoe refused to work for the military regime following the 2021 coup, defecting to the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
Why has the junta begun using paramotors to bomb villages?
What I now understand is that junta aircraft and helicopters are operating across the entire country in the war effort.
After more than four years [of military rule], the operational lifespan of aircraft operational is now an issue. They have flight-hour limits, and both engines and airframes have service lifetimes. They need to be replaced or repaired. Some aircraft need to be overhauled. Even if aircraft and helicopters are in good condition, they become inoperable if damaged by gunfire.
From my experience, the lack of sufficient aircraft and helicopters is a major issue. Previously, paramotors were used for reconnaissance by the Air Force. Initially, they were used to patrol airbase perimeters, since they had a range of only 50 to 60 miles.
Why are they using this new weapon in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magwe?
Paramotors are increasingly being used in Mandalay and Sagaing regions amid a lack of aircraft and helicopters. They are being deployed alongside 120mm shellfire. The main reason for using them in Sagaing, Magwe, and Mandalay is the weak air-defense capabilities of resistance groups. The military believes that resistance forces in these areas do not have proper anti-aircraft weapons. Hence paramotors are used more frequently.
The military don’t dare use paramotors in areas where strong resistance forces are active, such as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State and Arakan Army in Rakhine. The ethnic rebel armies have MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems). So, the junta paramotors attack weaker points where resistance forces have ordinary assault rifles but no effective weapons to shoot them down.
With a shortage of airplanes and helicopters, the junta is concentrating its air power in Rakhine, northern Shan, and Kachin states, where ethnic revolutionary organizations (EROs) are strong. Meanwhile, in central Myanmar, the use of paramotors is increasing.
What is the military purpose of using paramotors?
After analyzing the junta’s paramotor operations, I found that they are mainly used in Anyar (central Myanmar) to harass resistance areas rather than for large-scale battles. At most, they can be used for surprise aerial attacks. In major battles, they are ineffective.
What are the capabilities and limitations of junta paramotors, and how do they contribute to the regime’s military strategy?
The paramotors mostly operate at night, but their engines produce a distinct sound, so it’s possible to detect them in advance. Their weight capacity is also limited. They can carry 360-400 pounds (140-180 kilos), including the pilot. The can only carry light weapons such as an MA-2 submachine gun or BA-64 rifle. However, they also carry 120mm bombs, each weighing about 8 kilos. At most, they can transport three or four bombs along with light firearms.
The parachutes are often bought from Thailand and used with motorcycle engines modified in Myanmar. They run on regular fuel, making them cost-effective. The regime uses them as a low-cost means of disrupting resistance-controlled areas, terrorizing civilians and making peaceful life impossible.
How do junta paramotors guide their bombs in resistance-controlled territory?
For accuracy, aircraft usually use guided bombs that are aimed at specific targets, but these can be affected by gravity and air resistance. In contrast, paramotors carry up to four 120mm bombs which are dropped by hand, just as junta Y-12 and Y-8 aircraft did previously. These bombs do not require a specific detonator, instead exploding when they hit a hard surface.
The junta paramotors usually attack at night, but they lack the advanced ground-detection and targeting systems of other aircraft and must estimate their location for strikes. Wind currents and gravity also affect where the bombs land. As a result, their strikes are imprecise, leading to casualties among both combatants and civilians.
Are there any effective methods to counter the paramotor bombings?
The paramotors operate at altitudes between 500 and 2,000 feet but can theoretically reach 5,000 feet with oxygen tanks.
To defend themselves, resistance forces should post not just regular sentries but also aerial lookouts. Providing them with effective weapons will also boost their ability to counter paramotor attacks. Additionally, since paramotors move at around 60-70 km/h, similar to a motorcycle’s speed, their movement can be monitored, allowing counterattacks to be planned.
To counter paramotor attacks, resistance groups need dedicated anti-air defense units with proper weapons. Standard rifles are ineffective against them. However, .50 caliber or 20mm anti-aircraft guns can be effective. Snipers may also be able to shoot them down.
Can civilians do anything to avoid being bombed by junta paramotors?
The best defense against paramotor bombing is bomb shelters. Any bomb dropped on a ground has a significant blast radius. However, if people take shelter in a trench, they are relatively safe. The bomb’s explosion spreads outward, so those in a dug-out shelters are protected.
Although civilians and resistance forces are united, surviving under such conditions is not easy. That’s why both resistance fighters and civilians must know military tactics. Bomb shelters should be dug in advance and people must always be prepared for surprise junta attacks.
