NAYPYIDAW (Agencies): As the rebel army consolidates its gains against the Junta, the Myanmar Air Force has taken delivery of its six Su-30 SMEs from Russia.
The six Russian jets were acquired under a 2018 contract valued at US$ 400 million. The acquisition has been financed through a Russian loan, and the final two fighter jets were commissioned on December 15, 2024, at Meiktila Air Base in Mandalay.
Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister, informed the Russian news agency TASS that these Su-30 jets will serve as Myanmar’s primary aircraft for safeguarding territorial integrity and countering terror threats. The Su-30SMEs are stationed at Naypyidaw Air Base, enabling coverage of the entire country.
The Myanmar Junta is strengthening its air capabilities to deal with the rebels. On December 15 alone, the military commissioned six Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters, six Chinese-made FTC-2000G fighter jets, one K-8W fighter jet, and one Y-8 support aircraft.
According to Justice for Myanmar, which monitors the conflict in the country, the military is predominantly receiving aviation fuel from China and Russia, while the Junta has said that the raw materials it uses to produce military weapons come from 13 countries, including China, Russia, and India.
The Myanmar Air Force is currently focused on counter-insurgency operations and has been providing close air support to ground forces engaged in conflict with rebel forces. Since 2021, the Myanmar Air Force has been conducting airstrikes.