The Mon State Defense Force (MSDF) is expanding its military capabilities into coastal and waterway operations through the development of remote-controlled technology, group officials said on Friday.

The anti-junta resistance group has successfully engineered and tested unmanned kamikaze speedboats designed to gather maritime intelligence and execute targeted strikes against Myanmar military naval forces operating in riverine and coastal zones.

An MSDF spokesperson stated that the organization spent roughly a year procuring necessary components and technical expertise before conducting successful water trials in recent days.

"Our primary objective is to counter the military junta's naval assets," the spokesperson said. "We acquired this technology from naval defectors who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). Our engineers applied those insights, built the craft, and completed initial water testing."

The spokesperson added that the MSDF is currently working to extend the operational range and payload capacity of the unmanned vessels while seeking additional technical partnerships.

"We plan to upgrade these kamikaze craft for long-range missions and refine the guidance systems," the spokesperson noted, adding that the group is open to technical assistance and intends to share intelligence and maritime technology with allied resistance forces in the region.

Established in September 2021, the MSDF operates in southern Myanmar alongside other Mon revolutionary forces and anti-coup resistance groups.

The development of naval strike drones highlights a broader trend among Myanmar's resistance forces, which have increasingly relied on indigenous innovation—including aerial combat drones, improvised arms manufacturing, and encrypted communications—to offset the junta's advantage in conventional firepower.