Myanmar military junta using European technology for drone attacks, report says | Myanmar
Myanmar’s army uses advanced European technology to protect the drone fleet because it carries out brutal air campaigns, and directs research to tighten the calls for sanctions against Junta.
According to a report of the Conflict Weapon Survey (CAR), Myanmar’s army, which was widely condemned due to non-discriminated attacks on civilians, obtained the “Anti-Jamming” technology in Europe through a Chinese company.
Researchers documented military drones in the state of Kayah in the east of the country, equipped with advanced navigation modules that protect the drones against the squeezing and signal fraud. He also saw the evidence of similar technology used in the jaw province close to the western border of the country.
The car said that there were efforts to arms by putting these unmanned aerial vehicles under the frame.
Myanmar gained conflicts because he seized power in a coup in 2021, and caused an armed resistance of anti -Junta groups and former ethnic armed groups, who managed to seize the wide areas of the country’s borders.
For the last 12 months, Junta has invested in drone technology to capture opposition groups that effectively use such weapons. Myanmar ranks third globally for the number of drone events according to the armed conflict location and event data project that follows the conflicts in the world – behind Ukraine and Russia.
Myanmar has been exposed to the EU arms embargo in various ways since the beginning of the 1990s. In 2018, sanctions were expanded in response to military abuse against minorities, including Rohingya. After the 2021 military coup, more restriction was applied.
However, campaignists say that the sanctions are not wide enough and this is inconsistent throughout the EU because it falls into individual member states.
Myanmar justice spokesman Yadanar Maung said it was not surprising by Car’s findings. “This is a part of a model that sees communication equipment, spyware, UAV exports [unmanned aerial vehicle] The drive system for parts, aircraft and navy’s largest warship. ”
Yadanar Maung said, “None of this should be transferred and the member states should not be carried out meticulously by the member states, and companies will be unpunished with junta arms brokers.” He added. “The EU also needs to expand its sanctions to effectively prevent access to funds, weapons and aviation fuel in coordination with Junta’s allies.”
Robert Hunter Perkins, head of the car, said that Drone Warfare has created a certain challenge for policy makers because it is a rapidly developing area. “The proposals in the commercial market are much more developed than a few years ago. Industry innovations are difficult to lock with national and absolutely international controls.”
CAR’s report does not call the manufacturer producing anti-jamming technology or the European country on which it is based. Perkins said that the manufacturer has made all kinds of efforts to prevent the abuse of the product, although it is sensitive, it is not accepted as a military or double -use goods and is therefore not subject to controls.
In March 2023, the manufacturer sent its products to a Chinese -based veterinary distributor. The distributor then sold the product to another Chinese -based company that integrates its components into UAVs as part of a much larger shipment. In March 2024, he sold the product integrator to a Ruili -centered company, an important trade center on the border between China and Myanmar.
There is no evidence of injustice by the distributor and product integrator, but car researchers say that the location of the end user company, which is based on the border with an increase in the conflict, can be a red flag.
“What is important to get away from this investigation is how to use the information collected by researchers such as cars in the conflict zones: capturing these red flags, warning manufacturers and trying to prevent future deviations, Perk Perkins said.
The report said there is a need to monitor continuously to ensure that the sanctions are effective.
