Are UAVs Watching Burma?

[SpArK]

Are UAVs Watching Burma?​

An unidentified flying object assumed to be an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was spotted by soldiers from the Burmese army on Saturday flying over eastern Shan State.

No country or organization has accepted responsibility for the mysterious aircraft, and the Burmese Air Force has reportedly been ordered to shoot it down if spotted again in Burmese airspace, according to the Thailand-based Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN).

Several Burma observers have said that the unarmed drone is monitoring military maneuvers and opium production in the region. December and January mark the season for harvesting opium poppies.

According to Khuensai Jaiyen, the editor of SHAN, the UAV flew across Namhsan Township on Saturday, and was identical to a UAV spotted by government troops in the last week of December over Kengtung Township.

“I spoke with an official from the Shan State Army-South [SSA-South] and he said that the UAV is causing great concern within the Burmese army,” said Khuensai Jaiyen. “The SSA-South do not believe they are being targeted, but would not say who they believe is operating the small aircraft.”

Three years ago, a similar incident took place near Ho Mong in southern Shan State when the Burmese army seized and destroyed an unidentified UAV, he added.

“When I asked Thai military sources, they confirmed that they know of the incident, but say the UAV is not theirs,” the SHAN editor said.

UAVs are aircraft that are flown without a human crew and are largely used for military applications. They are also known as Remotely Piloted Vehicles or Unmanned Aircraft Systems. According to Wikipedia: “UAVs come in two varieties: some are controlled from a remote location, and others fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans using more complex dynamic automation systems.

Are UAVs Watching Burma?

 

[Lankan Ranger]

Burma Army on alert after UAVs invaded its air force

Air Force of the Burma’s ruling military junta has recently given a tall directive to battalions in Shan State East’s Kengtung township under Triangle Region Command, to arm their weapons to be ready to shoot any type of plane that flies over their army bases, according to sources from Kengtung.

The directive followed invasions of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) on the Burma Army’s radar station based in Loi Mwe, 20 miles southeast of Kengtung and 82 miles north of Maesai, Thailand on December 21 at around 11:00 and again on 1 January 2011 in Shan State South’s Namzarng-based air force.

“The planes appeared from somewhere along the Thai-Burma border areas, but it was not known who the owners were. It flied about 3 minutes long with the height of 5,000 ft. It was seen by some officers from air force based on the Loi Mew Mountain,” said a source close to junta in Kengtung.

The directive therefore was passed to all soldiers to inform relevant military headquarters and air force in time if they see more planes come up again. In addition, the soldiers were also ordered to arm all their anti-aircraft guns and to place Igla Missile on 24 hour-standby.

“In order to be line with the order, they [the junta authorities] are also planning to give military training,” the source added.

Regarding the reason for the UAV movements, some border watchers on the Thai-Burma border commented that the planes would come to check poppy plantations being planted along the border as it is poppy growing season. Some people in Burma thought that the UAVs also came to investigate Burma Army’s movement.

While it is not known who sent the UAVs, neighboring countries of Burma that have them are Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong.

Burma Army on alert after UAVs invaded its air force

 

[Parashuram1]

Wonder who has the time and resources to ponder over Burmese junta now. They are not a democracy for which they earn my criticism but at least they are not in the limelight for militarily dangerous reasons.

 

[Kompromat]

Meet the Global hawk.

 

[SpArK]

Burma's Air Defense Force Deploying New SAMs​

Burma’s Air Defense Force intends to deploy the S 125 Neva/ Pechora surface-to-air missile after Burmese army soldiers spotted an unidentified flying object assumed to be an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) flying over eastern Shan State in early January.

Originally from Russia, the S-125 Neva/Pechora is a kind of surface-to-air-missile (SAM) that has a shorter effective range and lower engagement than others.

“Air Defense Force troops will be in training between this month and April at Burma’s Air Defense Force schools,” said Khuensai Jaiyen, the editor Thailand-based Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN). “The training involves the UAV that was spotted in January.”

The UAV flew across Namhsan Township and was identical to a UAV spotted by government troops in the last week of December over Kengtung Township. The Burmese Air Force has reportedly been ordered to shoot the UAV down if spotted again in Burmese airspace.

Normally, Burmese Air Defense Force battalions are equipped with 57 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft auto-cannons, 37 mm anti-aircraft guns and Russia-made IGLAs, a portable anti-aircraft missile. Burma's military has sent junior Air Defense Force officers to Russia to be trained in portable air defense missile systems.

During the NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia, an F-117 stealth aircraft was shot down by a Serb S-125 air defense system in 1999.

As of December 2008, over 200 Pechora-2M upgraded ramp-launched missiles had been ordered by Egypt, Syria, Libya, Burma, Vietnam, Venezuela and Turkmenistan, according to the website Guide to Military Equipment and Civil Aviation.

Burma's military has two Air Defense Force schools, one based in Meikhtila in Mandalay Division and the other in Hmawbi in Rangoon Division, and eight Air Defense Force commands.


Burma's Air Defense Force Deploying New SAMs