Thirteen Myanmar junta aircraft, worth around US$170 million in total, have been shot down by the anti-regime forces since the 2021 coup.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allies have shot down five aircraft above Kachin State and northern Shan State.
Karenni resistance forces say they have shot down four aircraft, including three fighter jets.
Resistance groups say they have shot down two aircraft in Sagaing Region.
Two junta helicopters were shot down in Chin and Karen states.
Seven more junta aircraft were reportedly destroyed or damaged above Yangon, Bago and Sagaing regions and Rakhine and Kachin states, according to air force defectors.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.
The regime has lost around 10 other aircraft, including two airplanes, due to mechanical error or adverse weather since the coup.
Four helicopters shot down in Kachin State
The KIA shot down a Russian-made MI-35 helicopter worth around $36 million, during fighting with the regime near Kone Law village in Momauk Township, Kachin State, on May 3, 2021.
During the fighting, the junta used two helicopters and a fighter jet to attack the KIA.
The KIA shot down a Russian MI-17 transport helicopter, worth around $15 million, flying from the military airbase in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, to a frontline base in Waingmaw Township on January 3, 2024.
The pilot, Major Zaw Myo Thant, and co-pilot Captain Kaung San Thein were killed along with four other personnel. The KIA did not reveal what weapons were used but an online video showed a man-portable air-defense system being fired by a KIA fighter.
The KIA released photos of the unburned bodies of two pilots.
The KIA and allies used weapons, including drones, to ambush three helicopters airlifting reinforcements and supplies to the junta’s embattled 21st Military Operation Command headquarters in Bhamo, Kachin State, on May 20, 2025.
One crashed into a forest around 22km from Shwegu, another made an emergency landing in the town and the third returned to Myitkyina.
The KIA and allies said they found 19 bodies, including an unburned pilot’s body, at the crash site.
The KIA claimed it used drones to destroy a junta transport helicopter that crash-landed at Shwegu town on May 21 after an ambush in Bhamo town on May 20.
Chinese-made fighter shot down in northern Shan
The KIA and allies shot down a Chinese-made FTC-2000G fighter jet during an offensive on a junta base at Namhpatkar village in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State, on January 16, 2024.
A junta pilot was found dead in the aircraft.
An FTC-2000G is valued at $8.5 million. The regime purchased six from China and they were delivered in two batches to Namhsan air base in northern Shan State in 2022.
Four planes shot down in Karenni State
Karenni resistance groups claimed to have shot down an FTC-2000G fighter jet during an attack on a regime infantry battalion headquarters at Hpasawng town, Karenni State, on July 1, 2025.
The groups said they found the bodies of two pilots at the crash site in Hpasawng Township.
The Karenni People’s Liberation Front (KPLF) said it and allies shot down a junta helicopter transporting injured soldiers from a base on the border of Bawlakhe and Hpasawng township in Karenni State on May 6, 2024.
Seven regime personnel, including pilots, were killed and two others injured in the incident. A transport helicopter airlifted the bodies and two injured personnel.
The Karenni Army and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force shot down a K-8W fighter jet in Hpruso Township, Karenni State, on November 11, 2023.
Junta pilot Major Khaing Thant Moe and co-pilot Lieutenant Zarni Maung ejected and went missing. The fuselage was found in Taungoo District in Karen National Union territory in Bago Region. Khaing Thant Moe was captured after nine days when he asked for food from a Hpruso resident, who informed Karenni resistance forces.
The KPLF and allies claimed to have shot down a junta K-8W fighter jet in Bawlakhe Township, Karenni State, on June 30, 2023.
Resistance forces were prevented from reaching the crash site by regime helicopters. Five days later, the KPLF released an aerial photo of the crash site beside the Salween River.
Two junta warplanes shot down in Sagaing
The People’s Liberation Army claimed to have shot down a junta F7 fighter jet during a battle for Kan Dauk police station in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, on June 10, 2025.
The aircraft crashed into a village, killing four residents and burning some houses and a village monastery.
The junta pilot was found burned in the aircraft.
Two villagers were reportedly killed in retaliatory airstrikes on the crash site.
The civilian defense ministry claimed a People’s Defense Force shot down a junta transport helicopter airlifting reinforcements during fighting for Shwe Pyi Aye town, Homalin Township, Sagaing Region, on February 3, 2023.
However, the civilian ministry could not provide evidence of the crash.
Generals’ helicopter crashes in Karen State
The Karen National Liberation Army and allies shot down a junta Eurocopter in Thingyan Nyinaung town near Myawaddy, Karen State, on January 29, 2025.
The groups ambushed the aircraft after being tipped off about the flight.
Brigadier General Aye Min Naung, the new 44th Light Infantry Division commander, another general and other crews were reportedly killed.
Arakan Army shoots down helicopter in Chin State
The Arakan Army said it shot down a junta helicopter during fighting in Paletwa Township, southern Chin State, in late 2023 and early 2024.
The armed group found the crashed aircraft on January 13 after seizing the junta’s Tactical Command base on a mountain in Paletwa Township.
