Russia to train Myanmar’s first cosmonaut

Russia has agreed to train what it calls Myanmar’s first cosmonaut, marking a deepening of ties between Moscow and the junta in Naypyitaw.

The announcement came on Thursday from Roscosmos, Russia’s state space agency, as its chief Dmitry Bakanov met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in the capital. A human spaceflight cooperation agreement was signed with Myanmar Space Agency Director General Dr. Soe Myint Maung, with Roscosmos pledging to oversee the selection and training process.

Bakanov hailed the deal as “another significant step” in bilateral cooperation. The junta’s own statement, however, avoided mention of astronaut training, focusing instead on broader plans for space technology and satellite education programmes.

Under the agreement, Myanmar will host a Russian GLONASS satellite navigation data‑collection station and a near‑Earth hazardous‑object tracking system, with land already allocated at the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University in Meiktila. Min Aung Hlaing also expressed interest in joining Russia’s nanosatellite programme, while the visiting delegation toured exhibitions and met students.

The deal comes as the junta prepares to form a new cabinet and continues to rely heavily on Moscow for political backing, military hardware and technical expertise. Just last month, President Vladimir Putin approved an investment protection agreement to boost Russian involvement in Myanmar’s energy sector. Russia is also contracted to build a small‑scale nuclear plant in the country.

Space cooperation between the two regimes dates back to 2022, when Min Aung Hlaing toured a Russian launch facility. In March 2025, he and Putin witnessed the signing of a separate agreement on “peaceful space exploration”. The junta chief has since presided over the opening of a space museum in Yangon and frequently emphasised the importance of satellites, cyber capabilities and artificial intelligence in modern warfare.

Analysts warn that while both sides frame the partnership as peaceful, satellite systems could enhance the junta’s surveillance and targeting capacity against resistance forces.

Myanmar has also sought space‑related assistance from China, underscoring the regime’s ambition to secure advanced technology from its allies.

The training of a cosmonaut, if realised, would be a symbolic leap for Myanmar’s generals—one that cements their alignment with Moscow while raising fresh concerns about the military’s expanding reach beyond Earth.

-2026-03-02