Drones Redefine the Battlefield in Myanmar’s Escalating War

RFA

Myanmar’s civil war is entering a new phase — one where drones, not fighter jets, are shaping the conflict from above.

Once dominated by the military’s ageing fleet of helicopters and jets, aerial warfare in Myanmar has undergone a radical shift. Over the past year, both the junta and resistance forces have turned to drones, making the country the world’s third-most active drone warzone, after Ukraine and Russia.

What began as a guerrilla tactic by post-coup resistance fighters — modifying commercial drones to drop homemade explosives — has evolved into a game-changing strategy. More than 2,100 drone strike incidents have been recorded since 2021, targeting military bases, airfields, convoys and even senior commanders. Resistance forces now operate with specialised drone units like Federal Wings and Cloud Wings, coordinating attacks from improvised air forces.

In April 2024, kamikaze drones struck the regime’s airbase and military HQ in Nay Pyi Taw. Just days later, drones targeted a stadium and helicopter unit during a visit by the military’s deputy chief. By November, resistance groups had damaged jets and bomb factories in a complex 24-drone raid on Meiktila — a strike that took a year to plan.

These attacks haven’t just inflicted damage — they’ve reshaped morale. Troops now face a near-constant aerial threat, including psychological pressure from unarmed drones buzzing overhead.

But the military is adapting. Once slow to embrace drone warfare, the regime is now investing heavily in its own fleet, supplementing its air force with drones and even paramotors — low-flying, powered gliders used for bomb drops and assaults. Since December 2024, paramotors have been recorded in over 120 operations.

Despite air superiority, the junta’s ground power is crumbling. Desertions are up, conscription is faltering, and fuel shortages are biting. In response, drones offer a cheaper, deadlier alternative — one that doesn't rely on an increasingly reluctant human force.

As Myanmar’s skies grow ever more crowded with drones, the balance of power is no longer decided by altitude, but by innovation — and both sides know the war from above could define the battle on the ground.

-2025-07-02