Myanmar Regime Takes Delivery of Two Su-30 Fighter Jets From Russia

Isa Khan

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By THE IRRAWADDY 4 July 2022

Russia delivered the first two of six new Su-30 jet fighters to Myanmar in March, according to several informed sources who formerly served with the Myanmar Air Force.

Moscow sent several trainers and technicians to assist the Myanmar Air Force during the warranty period, according to the sources, who are former Myanmar Air Force officers who joined the anti-coup movement last year. They said the Russian pilots and technicians will stay in Myanmar until the warranty period is over. One source said several of the Russians are staying in Naypyitaw while some are based in Mandalay. He confirmed that the two new Su-30s are now in a hanger in Naypyitaw, a strategic location in central Myanmar from where they will be able to cover the entire country from the far north to the south.

The Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter jet developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air interdiction missions. The multirole fighters were used by Russia in Syria in 2015.

In 2018, Russia agreed to sell six Su-30 fighter jets to the Myanmar military during Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s visit to Myanmar.

“The planes will become the main fighter aircraft of Myanmar’s air force to protect the country’s territorial integrity and repel any terror threats,” Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin was quoted as saying at the time by the Russian news agency TASS.

Over the years, Myanmar’s military has bought MiG-29 and Su-30 multi-role aircraft, Yak-130 jet trainer and light combat aircraft, Mi-17 transport helicopters and Mi-24 helicopter gunships from Russia.

Military-to-military relations

Russian Defense Minister Shoigu visited Myanmar just a few days before the Feb. 1, 2021 coup and pledged to sell air defense weaponry to Myanmar. Deputy Defense Minister Fomin attended Myanmar’s Armed Forces Day parade in Naypyitaw the following month.

Myanmar’s bilateral relations with Russia have reached a new level since the coup, regime spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said in August last year. “Russia plays the central part in Myanmar’s air defense systems, followed by China. And the cooperation between the air forces is expanding,” the spokesman told reporters.

The regime has increased its military-to-military cooperation with Russia and has also expressed support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian Navy warship Gremyashiy made a friendly visit to Myanmar in October, and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing met the Russian delegation led by Russian deputy Navy chief Vice Admiral Vladimir Lvovich Kasatonov aboard the ship.

Prior to the recent delivery of fighter jets, a number of Russian pilots and technicians visited Myanmar as the military regime mounted increasingly frequent air attacks on ethnic armed organizations fighting for greater autonomy and on local People’s Defense Force groups that emerged after the military coup last year.

In February, The Irrawaddy reported that amid increasing junta air strikes in Sagaing and Magwe regions, a Russian military delegation comprising pilots was visiting the country.

The 24-member Russian delegation arrived in Mandalay on Jan. 28. Russian pilots have often visited Myanmar to provide aviation training as well as maintain and upgrade aircraft at Meiktila Air Base in Mandalay Region.

 

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