Military Suspected Myanmar Drone Crashes in Tak

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of Naewna.

 

A suspected drone believed to belong to the Myanmar military crashed inside Thai territory in the morning of 21 July, prompting Thai authorities to declare a danger zone in the affected area.

 

At approximately 07:00, soldiers from the 35th Ranger Task Force (Company 3502) responded to a report from residents of Ban Khun Mae Woei in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province, who discovered a crashed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a forest roughly five kilometres from the village.

 

Upon inspection at the crash site in Village 5, Tha Song Yang Subdistrict, rangers identified the drone as a kamikaze-type UAV. The wreckage included a battery pack, a signal receiver, a motor unit and a gas cylinder mounted on the drone’s nose, suspected to be fitted to an explosive warhead. The drone was marked with the code “DW 06 L-85.”

 

As a precaution, military personnel cordoned off the site and designated it a hazardous area. The local village chief was instructed to alert residents and prevent anyone from approaching the site. The drone remains were collected and transferred to Company 3502 headquarters for further investigation by relevant authorities.

 

However, the suspected warhead, still embedded in the gas cylinder, was left in place. Authorities coordinated with explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams to safely recover and analyse the device.

 

Initial assessments suggest the drone may have originated from the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw), as its design closely matches UAVs previously used in attacks on KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army) positions in March 2019 and June 2025.

 

Officials believe the drone was likely intended to strike a KNLA special battalion base located across the border from Ban Khun Mae Woei. However, due to a malfunction or navigational error, it veered off course and crashed into Thai territory.

 

The incident highlights growing concerns over cross-border military activity and potential risks to civilian safety along Thailand’s western frontier. Investigations are ongoing.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-07-23

 

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

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