The Myanmar Air Force and the addition of 4.5-generation Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, which have been carrying out airstrikes against rebels since 2021, will strengthen the rebels’ ability to inflict more damage and change the course of Myanmar’s civil war. There is a possibility. war.
Myanmar Civil War: In a major development in Myanmar’s civil war that could turn the tide in favor of the junta, the Myanmar Air Force has acquired six Sukhoi Su-30 SME fighters from Russia. According to reports, the junta’s air force is having problems with the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet, which is jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan.
The Myanmar Air Force acquired the Russian fighter jets under a $400 million contract signed in 2018, and they were commissioned last month on December 15 at Meiktila Air Base in Mandalay.
Russian Deputy Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin, revealed that the Su-30 fighter jets will serve as the main aircraft for the Myanmar Air Force’s territorial integrity and countering terrorist threats, adding that the Russian-made jets are being deployed. he added. According to a report by TASS news agency, Nay Pyi Taw Air Base is now capable of covering the entire country.
Sukhoi Su-30SME features
The Su-30SME, manufactured by Sukhoi, is an export version of the Russian Su-30SM fighter jet, which was first unveiled on the world stage at the 2018 Singapore Air Show. The twin-engine, two-seat Su-30SME fighter is designed for combat missions requiring extended range and significant payload.
The fighter is equipped with Russian-made avionics, replacing foreign components found in other variants such as the Su-30MKI used by the Indian Air Force. The fighter jet can reach a top speed of Mach 2.0 and has a range of 17,300 meters.
The Sukhoi Su-30SME has an operational range of approximately 3,000 kilometers and is equipped with 12 hardpoints for mounting various weapon configurations.
Could Russian fighter jets change the course of Myanmar’s civil war?
The acquisition of the Su-30SME jets could be a blow to Myanmar’s military junta, which has recently lost some key territory to rebels, particularly the Arakan Army, which has seized and taken control of large parts of the crucial Rakhine state. There is sex. Crossing the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
In response, Myanmar’s ruling junta has launched a number of measures to thwart the rebels, including commissioning six Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters, six Chinese-made FTC-2000G fighter jets, and one K-8W fighter jet. It has taken several important steps to strengthen its air attack capabilities. Last month, six Su-30SME fighters were added, along with one Y-8 support aircraft.
The Myanmar Air Force, which has been carrying out airstrikes against the rebels since 2021, is currently providing air support to ground forces fighting the rebels, and with the addition of 4.5 generation Sukhoi Su-30 fighters, the rebels are The ability to deal more damage will be strengthened. The dispatch of troops could change the course of Myanmar’s civil war.
The junta’s air power is ineffective against rebels.
According to Justice for Myanmar, a war watchdog that monitors the conflict in the country, the junta receives most of its aviation fuel from China and Russia, while raw materials used to make military weapons include: Sourced from 13 countries. China, Russia, India.
But the rebels’ air superiority, even amid regular airstrikes and artillery attacks on rebel-held towns in northern Shan State, means they can seize more territory and inflict heavy defeats on the military. has been largely proven to be ineffective in preventing
According to media reports, Myanmar’s air force is using Y-12 aircraft to drop bombs in rebel-held areas, and after losing fighter jets and combat helicopters, the military is now “carrying hundreds of bombs.” using a transport helicopter. Fight against the rebel army.
Remarkably, the rebels have been able to shoot down low-flying aircraft with weapons such as .50 caliber machine guns, despite not possessing surface-to-air missiles or other advanced anti-aircraft equipment. .
