‘Air Alert’ app launched in Karenni State to warn of airstrikes

In response to the devastating surge in aerial attacks by the Myanmar Air Force over the last five years since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, resistance forces have turned to technology to protect civilians.

The Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) has officially requested residents across Karenni State to install a newly developed mobile application called “Air Alert,” designed to provide real-time warnings of incoming airstrikes.

However, as the conflict intensifies, the high-tech initiative is colliding with the harsh realities of conflict-affected communities, leaving many civilians to rely on traditional survival methods.

Five minutes to seek shelter

Developed by the KNDF’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) team, the “Air Alert” application aims to strip the Myanmar Air Force of its element of surprise.

“This app can track an aircraft’s real-time location and its paths. So, people will have up to five minutes to prepare ahead for their safety,” the KNDF app developer told DVB on the condition of anonymity.

According to the KNDF, more than 2,700 users have already installed the application. Despite its potential, the app faces significant technical and financial bottlenecks.

It is currently only available for Android smartphones, and developers report that it does not function properly on devices manufactured by Xiaomi—a highly popular, budget-friendly Chinese brand in the region.

Furthermore, the KNDF noted that additional funding is urgently required to port the application to Apple’s iOS operating system.

The on-the-ground reality

While tech-savvy resistance fighters push for digital solutions, civilians in active conflict zones face a different reality. In Hpruso Township, located roughly 22 miles (35 km) south of the state capital, Loikaw, residents are largely bypassing the app in favor of community-driven, analogue alarm systems.

Due to erratic internet connectivity and frequent telecom blackouts imposed during military operations, relying on a mobile network can be a fatal gamble.

“We used to gather together inside the bunker once the aircraft flew very low,” a displaced Hpruso resident currently living in a temporary camp told DVB. “Everyone, including the children, have to practice in their schools how to hide in the bunkers.”

The deployment of the “Air Alert” app comes amid a highly fractured security landscape in Karenni State. The region remains deeply divided between entrenched regime forces and advancing resistance fighters:

• Resistance-Controlled Zones: The Karenni resistance has successfully seized control of Mese, Shadaw, and Hpasawng townships.

• Regime-Controlled Zones: The military maintains its grip on strategic hubs, including the state capital Loikaw, as well as Demoso, Bawlakhe, and Hpruso townships.

A rising human toll

The urgency behind the app’s development is underscored by a sharp escalation in the military’s nationwide air campaign.

Since Min Aung Hlaing was formally inaugurated as president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, regime forces have aggressively expanded their use of air power.

Nationwide data reveals a grim toll: a total of 576 aerial attacks—encompassing traditional airstrikes, gyrocopters, motorized paragliders, and UAV drone strikes—have been carried out since the inauguration. These bombardments have resulted in 272 fatalities and left 568 others injured.

As the air war escalates, the daily survival of Karenni State’s displaced population remains caught in the balance between a forward-looking digital defense and the immediate, gritty reality of earthen bunkers.