Successfully Buying Sukhoi SU-30, Myanmar Military Wants To Buy Pantsir-S1 And Drones From Russia

The Russian-made Pantsir-S1 that the Myanmar military wants to buy. (Wikimedia Commons/Jovo Mamula)

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military regime sent a high-level military delegation to Moscow, Russia this week. Unmitigated, this delegation was led directly by Air Force Commander General Maung Maung Kyaw, accompanied by a number of other high-ranking military officers.

A number of business sources in Yangon and Naypyitaw said joining the delegation was U Tay Za, the tycoon of Myanmar, and arms broker U Tay Za who was sanctioned by the United States.

"Members of the delegation will discuss with their Russian counterparts about 20 megaprojects, including the procurement of weapons and military hardware," said a source in Myanmar, as reported by The Irrawaddy Thursday, May 20.

Russia is Myanmar's second-largest arms supplier after China. Successfully purchased six advanced Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets in 2019 and are currently awaiting delivery. Myanmar is interested in buying a number of other military equipment from Russia.

Leader of the Myanmar military regime Senior General Min Aung Hlaing with Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia Colonel General Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin. (Source: gnlm.com.mm)

January 2021, Myanmar and Russia signed a contract to purchase Russian air defense systems and a series of reconnaissance drones. Launching The Moscow Times, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu agreed to supply a number of weapons to Myanmar during a visit to Naypyidaw last January.

During a visit led directly by Shoigu a week before the coup of the Myanmar military regime on February 1, Russia agreed to supply the Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems, Orlan-10E reconnaissance drones to radar.

In February, Russian customs data seen by The Moscow Times said the Myanmar military regime imported radars worth US$ 14.7 million. It is unclear whether the Russian radar equipment Myanmar imported in February was part of the January agreement.

As a friendly country and a business partner, Russia is the only country to send high-ranking ministerial officials to commemorate Myanmar Armed Forces Day on March 27.

Representing Russia, Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Formin was present at the commemoration and held talks with the leader of the Myanmar military regime, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, discussing increasing military cooperation between the two countries.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data for 2019, Myanmar's spending on imports of Russian weapons is estimated at US$ 807 million during the decade.

In December, trade data also showed that Russia exported $ 96 million worth of goods classified as 'hidden', which are often defense-related products.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.