Myanmar military takes delivery of Russian fighter jets
Myanmar's military has begun taking delivery of a batch of Russian-made combat fighter jets_ a monitoring group said that_ the latest hardware shipped from Moscow as rights campaigners accuse the junta of hitting civilians with air strikes.
In 2018 under the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi_ Myanmar's army purchased six Sukhoi Su-30s from Russia_ according to Russian state media reports.
Satellite data_ reports from flight spotters and a closed source have 'now confidently confirmed' the presence of at least one of the jets in the military-built capital Naypyidaw_ said Myanmar Witness_ a monitoring group.
Local media have previously reported between four and six of the multi-role twin-seat fighters had arrived in the country_ accompanied by Russian trainers and technicians.
The military has not commented on the sale or how many of the jets are in Myanmar.
Russia is a major arms supplier and backer of the Myanmar junta_ which has described Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as 'justified.'
In October Jane's Defence Weekly said it had received imagery showing a Russian Kamov KA-29TB assault transport helicopter in operation in the northern Sagaing region.
The helicopter appeared to be one of five that Myanmar's military agreed to buy earlier this year_ Jane's said_ citing regional intelligence sources. The junta is struggling to crush resistance after it seized power previous year.
Fighting has flared with ethnic rebel groups as well as newer anti-coup 'People's Defence Forces'_ and rights groups have accused the military of launching air strikes on civilians that amount to war crimes.
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