Amid the Myanmar military’s recent series of defeats in northern Shan State and Rakhine State, junta Defense Minister Tin Aung San went to Russia last week to observe information security management systems, drone and anti-drone technologies, and other modern military equipment.
A junta delegation led by Tin Aung San, a former admiral, attended the International Military Technical Forum (ARMY 2024) in Moscow from Aug. 12-14.
They also observed military vehicles and advanced weapons systems on display.
Tin Aung San also met his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov. The two discussed increased cooperation in various fields including military technology, exchanged views on the current situation in Myanmar, and discussed scholarship programs for Myanmar soldiers, junta media reported.
Russia is a major arms supplier to the regime, and has provided diplomatic support and cooperation in various sectors since the 2021 putsch.
Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, his deputy Soe Win and Myanmar military No. 3 Maung Maung Aye have also visited Russia.
Tin Aung San attended the same forum in Russia last year.
According to a 2023 report by United Nations special rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews, “The Billion Dollar Death Trade: International Arms Networks that Enable Human Rights Violations in Myanmar,” the military regime imported at least US$1 billion worth of weapons and related material in two years following the 2021 coup, of which more than $400 million, mostly for fighter jets, was imported from Russia.
The regime has purchased Russian aircraft spare parts, reconnaissance drones, air-to-ground missiles and military trucks. It has relied heavily on its air force over the past year to contain the popular revolt against it. Still, it has lost more than 70 towns.
Observers say Tin Aung San likely focused on drones and anti-drone technology in his latest visit to Russia. Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has lamented that ethnic armies have made heavy use of drones to attack junta positions in northern Shan State.
In April, the War Office and a major air base in the junta’s nerve center of Naypyitaw were targeted with drone attacks.
Min Aung Hlaing has often called for greater information security when he meets his junta ministers and military personnel.
Tin Aung San was appointed the junta’s defense minister in August last year. The Myanmar military has since lost dozens of towns in northern Shan State as well as its Northeastern Command to ethnic armies. Additionally, it has lost almost the entirety of northern Rakhine State and is also losing ground in southern Rakhine.
The Myanmar military is also doing badly in Mandalay Region’s Myingyan, Natogyi and Taung Tha townships, which are strongholds of the military’s proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party.
