Residents in central Myanmar and military defectors told DVB that the Myanmar Air Force is now using manned motorized paragliders, or paramotors, and gyrocopters–a miniature helicopter—to target civilians in territory controlled by anti-regime forces in Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay regions.
“Gyrocopters and paragliders provide the Myanmar military with fuel-efficient platforms for short-range, low-level attacks typically on defenceless targets. With a single pilot manually dropping mortar bombs, these aircraft are a cheap, low-risk attack option that…can inflict very heavy casualties,” Anthony Davis, an analyst with Janes security and defence publications, told DVB.
Residents of Salingyi Township in Sagaing Region told DVB that one civilian was killed and two others were injured by a paramotor attack in Htanpu village on Oct. 20. Salingyi is located 27 miles (43 km) south of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa.
The People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Wetlet Township, 50 miles (80 km) east of Monywa, told DVB that four civilians were injured and around 3,000 residents fled their homes in Ywarthagyi village due to regime airstrikes, as well as paramotor and gyrocopter attacks, Oct. 12-16.
At least 30 civilians were killed and 50 others were injured during paramotor attacks in Sagaing’s Bonto village on Oct. 6, residents of Chaung-U Township told DVB. Chaung-U is located 16 miles (25 km) south of Monywa.
The Myanmar Defence & Security Institute (MDSI), a research organization founded by military defectors, states that a paramotor is equipped with an engine and a parachute and can take off and land without needing a runway like traditional airplanes.
It can fly from 18-37 miles (30-60 km) per hour. A gyrocopter looks similar to a small helicopter but can only fly at speeds from 49-99 miles (80-160 km) per hour, depending on the model.
“As a relatively recent complement to an Air Force campaign that relies mainly on fixed-wing aircraft operating at greater speeds and higher altitudes or on less accurate attack drones, the paraglider or gyrocopter is an almost ideal platform for terror strikes against civilians,” added Davis.
At least five workers were killed during paramotor and gyrocopter attacks on two oilfields in Pauk and Myaing townships of Magway Region on Oct. 7-8, the PDF told DVB. Myaing and Pauk, located 130-136 miles (209-218 km) north of the Magway Region capital Magway.
Gyrocopter attacks reportedly killed a resident of Sagaing’s Kyartat village in Salingyi Township on Oct. 7, according to residents. Salingyi is located 27 miles (43 km) south of Monywa.
A resident of Salingyi told DVB on the condition of anonymity that he has witnessed paramotors and gyrocopters flying in and out of the regime’s Northwestern Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Monywa in recent months.
A PDF called the “Civilians Defence and Security Organization” in Myaung Township told DVB that three paramotors have been added to the Northwestern RMC, bringing the total number to six. The number of gyrocopters inside the RMC is unknown, the PDF spokesperson added.
The lack of phone and internet connectivity in the region makes it difficult for resistance groups to monitor Myanmar Air Force activities. Myaung is located 36 miles (58 km) southeast of Monywa.
“Both paramotors and gyrocopters are hard to control in hilly and forest areas [due to the ability to fly at low altitudes]. They’re mainly used to fly low and drop bombs,” an MDSI member told DVB on the condition of anonymity.
He added that the regime’s Infantry Division 101 in Pakokku Township and Magway Airbase in Magway Region, Meiktila Airbase in Mandalay Region, and Northwestern RMC in Sagaing Region are opting for paramotors and gyrocopters over fighter jets to attack communities in the region.
