Russia says it is keeping Myanmar fighter jets operational, eyes naval projects

Mizzima

Russia is helping keep fighter jets it previously supplied to Myanmar operational and sees prospects for future projects involving naval equipment, a senior Russian arms cooperation official said during a Moscow visit by the junta-installed President Min Aung Hlaing.

Dmitry Shugaev, head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told Russian state broadcaster Vesti on 18 August that Moscow and Naypyidaw had several joint aviation projects, including support to maintain the “flightworthiness” of previously supplied fighter aircraft, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Shugaev said Russia had already supplied Myanmar with a large amount of military equipment and described the country as a strategic partner in the region. Because Myanmar has access to the sea, he added, Russia also saw prospects for projects involving naval equipment.

He did not identify the fighter models receiving support, give the number of aircraft involved, or explain whether the work covered repairs, spare parts, upgrades or other technical services.

Maintaining flightworthiness involves the technical work needed to keep aircraft fit and available to fly. The Myanmar Air Force operates several types of Russian-made aircraft, including MiG-29 and Su-30 fighter jets, Yak-130 combat trainers, and Russian helicopters.

The comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Min Aung Hlaing at the Kremlin on 18 August. Putin said cooperation between the two countries in the security field was developing. Their talks also covered energy, trade and other economic projects.

The visit was Min Aung Hlaing’s first trip to Moscow since he took office as “president” in April, after a Union Parliament vote that followed a military-run election which Western governments and rights groups dismissed as a sham. Russia has remained one of the Myanmar military’s main arms suppliers since the 2021 coup that first brought him to power.