MMNN Defense Briefing: FPV Drone Strike Takes Down Junta Helicopter in Northern Myanmar
From Myanmar Muslims News Network (MMNN)
A recent viral video circulating on international defense forums and social media appears to confirm a groundbreaking military incident in northern Myanmar: an Mi-17 military helicopter used by the Myanmar junta was reportedly shot down by resistance forces while attempting to deliver troops and supplies.
Kachin Independence Army (KIA) sources claim the helicopter was targeted by an FPV (First-Person View) drone — a lightweight, inexpensive yet highly precise unmanned aerial weapon. The attack occurred in western Bhamo, near the Irrawaddy River. The video shows the FPV drone homing in on the rotor blades of one of three helicopters operating in the area.
According to KIA statements and confirmation from Col. Naw Bu, the helicopter crashed in a jungle area, resulting in the deaths of all 18 personnel aboard. In addition, 14 burned rifles were recovered from the crash site. KIA troops reportedly found a burning wreck in the forest and an unburned body with the name tag Captain Myo Htet Aung nearby.
A KIA soldier told that they found 18 other bodies in the burned aircraft along with 14 weapons.
“There were 19 bodies in total. A captain’s body was found outside the aircraft,” he said.
The other bodies were too burned to be identified, the soldier added.
The other two helicopters quickly evacuated — one taking off before landing, and another diverting directly back to base instead of dropping troops. Analysts suggest that the pilots recognized the drone threat and aborted their missions for safety.
One of the helicopters later made an emergency landing at a football field near the base of Infantry Battalion 56 in Shwegu. KIA forces, in cooperation with allied units from Division 11, reportedly launched heavy artillery strikes and successfully destroyed that grounded aircraft as well.
Junta state media initially claimed the helicopter crash was due to mechanical failure — a narrative that has since been widely disputed.
Military experts note this is not the first time Myanmar resistance forces have brought down junta aircraft. Since the 2021 coup, at least five helicopters and three fighter jets have been destroyed. The recent FPV drone strike is considered a significant escalation in tactics.
Notably, this mirrors a similar FPV drone operation conducted by Ukrainian forces in July 2024, which successfully downed a Russian helicopter near Donetsk. With Myanmar resistance forces now deploying FPV drones — compact, agile, and capable of first-person targeting — military aviation assets face mounting vulnerability.
FPV drones offer several advantages:
- They can be built cheaply.
- They deliver pinpoint strikes.
- They are guided in real-time by operators wearing goggles or using live video feeds, enabling high precision.
With advanced counter-FPV technology still largely unavailable, many analysts fear helicopters — once considered a key military advantage — are rapidly becoming liabilities.
In an era when advanced missile launchers and imported drones are expensive and rare, local resistance forces have turned to self-made FPV technology. This trend has reshaped battlefield dynamics, allowing ground forces to challenge air superiority.
Military analysts believe Myanmar’s resistance has now entered a new phase. As FPV drones become more prevalent, they are likely to redefine the balance of power in many conflict zones across the country.
This strike in Bhamo sends a clear message: the junta is no longer immune from aerial threat — even deep in its own territory.
In a broader context, this represents the evolving reality of Myanmar’s civil resistance. From hand-built bombs to cutting-edge drone strikes, people across ethnic and political lines are mobilizing every means to fight tyranny.
As one analyst noted, “This is not just a tactical win — it’s psychological. It proves that the junta’s military might can be outmatched by creativity and courage.”
The struggle continues. The people’s revolution remains steadfast.
MMNN – Myanmar Muslims News Network
www.myanmarmuslim.news
Credit to
1/ Hla Soewai Mi-17 ပစ်ချ ခံရမှု နောက်ကွယ်
2/ Irrawaddy pictures
