In Karenni State, the junta is strategically using drones not only to gain a military advantage over resistance forces but also with the malicious intent of intimidating and instilling fear among civilians, according to Karenni resistance forces.
To instill fear in local communities, the junta previously relied on arbitrary shelling of residential areas with artillery. Recently, it has increasingly turned to drones and drone bombs, which allow for more precise targeting.
Resistance forces that controlled Mobye Town noted a marked increase in the sophistication of the junta’s drone warfare following its full-scale offensive against the town in November 2024. Located in southern Shan State near Karenni State, Mobye saw the junta extensively use drones to target not only military positions but also civilian areas surrounding the conflict zones.
On March 4, 2025, the junta used loitering munitions, commonly known as kamikaze drones, to attack a village in Demoso Township, Karenni State. Later, on August 28, a war-displaced man was killed in Hpruso Township by a junta drone bombing.
The junta has used aircraft, drones, and artillery to suppress the resistance sparked by the coup, demonstrating that civilians are equally at risk.
Junta’s advancing drone warfare tactics
One of the most notable milestones of the Spring Revolution, recognized by both the resistance community and the public, was ‘Operation 1027,’ which began in October 2023 and was conducted by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, of which the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) is a member. The operation saw the MNDAA dropped around 25,000 grenades and bombs from drones, inflicting heavy casualties on junta troops, an outcome acknowledged by junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing himself.
In other words, it demonstrated the transformative impact of drone warfare on the modern battlefields. Following the first phase of Operation 1027, the junta began building its own new drone force, BBC Burmese reported.
On November 8, 2024, Min Aung Hlaing visited Kunming City, China, to observe agricultural, construction, and surveillance drones, according to junta-controlled media.
The head of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) drone unit, known by the codename 3D, acknowledged that the drone technology deployed by the junta on the battlefield is more advanced than that of the resistance forces.
“The junta troops had been using drones before, but not very much. They weren’t as effective with the drones as we, the resistance forces, were. But over time, they got more advanced and stronger in this area. Their ability in drone procurement is also much greater than ours. Because of this, some resistance forces have recently had to abandon towns and villages they controlled, simply because they couldn’t withstand the junta’s drone attacks,” he told Kantarawaddy Times.
Junta uses drones to attack civilians
Resistance fighters on the frontline began noticing a significant increase in the junta’s drone use and capabilities during its offensive on Mobye Town, located on the border of Shan State and Karenni State.
Since August 4, the junta’s Infantry Battalion 102 (IB 102), based in Demoso Town, has stepped up drone reconnaissance flights over its military operation zones, as well as civilian areas and suspected resistance hideouts. Military analysts warned that resistance fighters positioned closer to the war zone face a greater risk of drone strikes.
3D said that the junta has occasionally used attack drones with more precise targeting systems to scout civilian areas, meaning civilians could be struck at any time, and the public needs to be more aware of this risk.
“During the fighting between Hsawngpyaung Village and Pekon Town in southern Shan State, the junta used drones to bomb displaced locals, and there were civilian casualties. People need to stay aware that any of the junta’s drones could strike at any time,” he emphasized.
He pointed out that, in particular, whenever the junta faces military setbacks, it has sometimes retaliated by attacking nearby communities with drones.
According to a local, the junta’s surveillance drones are now flying daily over villages just a few miles from Demoso Town, prompting residents to become anxious and evacuate in advance.
Types of drones deployed by junta
The junta learned to use drones effectively on the battlefield by observing its arch enemies, the resistance forces. Later, Chinese and Russian drones became the most widely used by the junta, resistance fighters noted.
The main types of drones used by the junta on the Karenni State battlefield and their functions can be categorized as follows:
Multi-rotor drone: A drone with multiple motors, usually a hexacopter, capable of flying at high altitudes, covering at least six kilometers, and carrying a payload of at least five kilograms.
Fixed-wing hybrid VTOL drone: A drone resembling a small glider, capable of flying 30 to 60 kilometers and carrying a payload of up to 15 kilograms.
Suicide drone: A form of loitering munition, often called a kamikaze drone, armed with high explosives and intended to strike targets directly. The junta has employed them twice against civilian sites in Demoso Township.
These are the most common types of drones used by the junta in Karenni State, with payload capacity, altitude, and flight range varying depending on the type.
“These drones aren’t super loud, but you can still hear them coming, so you have a chance to take cover. The junta usually locks the drone onto a target, switches it to automatic flight, and then launches it. If the target can get out of the way in time, there’s a much better chance of escaping,” said 3D.
The junta is set to hold elections it will oversee by the end of the year and is attempting to expand its controlled territory beforehand, which could also result in increased drone deployments, resistance forces predicted.
3D advised civilians to stay indoors or take cover as soon as they hear a drone approaching and to avoid open areas, which can significantly reduce the risk of damage or casualties.
photo credit - CJ
