Myanmar junta deploys Chinese drones to monitor protesters and aid military after coup: report
- Drones may be emerging as psychological warfare tactic to intimidate the population, says Jane’s International Defence Review
- China’s CH-3A unmanned aerial vehicle can be reconfigured to carry out communications intelligence and electronic warfare
03:08
Myanmar protesters return to streets as military tightens grip
Among them was the CH-3A drone, developed by Chinese state-owned defence contractor China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the Janes report said.
It is believed between 10 and 12 of the CH-3A drones – about a squadron’s worth of aircraft – were delivered to Myanmar around the period 2013 to 2015 and operated by the Myanmar Air Force. They are reportedly based at Meiktila Air Base in north-central Myanmar, according to Janes.
Military drones such as the CH-3A are typically used to collect aerial surveillance images and data to support the military’s planning and decision-making, and conduct counter-insurgency operations against ethnic rebel groups across the country, according to the report.
“It is therefore likely that the UAVs seen operating over Mandalay were used to observe ground activity, enabling the Tatmadaw to visually monitor the situation in real time to identify specific threats and direct security forces as required,” the report said.