As the Myanmar military continues to intensify its aerial campaigns against resistance forces and civilians, the military increasingly deployed paramotors — a motor-powered paraglider that a single soldier can use to drop explosives or undertake surveillance at low altitudes. ACLED data shows eight attacks using paramotors across Taungtha, Paletwa, and Sagaing townships in January, resulting in at least nine civilian deaths. Alongside these paramotor assaults, the military continued to use airstrikes to target crowds at resistance detention facilities, hospitals, mining operations, and potential New Year celebration sites. Airstrikes across the country reportedly killed more than 150 civilians in January alone, according to ACLED data.
Su Mon, Senior Analyst for Asia-Pacific with ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) said:
“The military’s increased use of paramotors is a significant development because they offer more precise strikes with small explosives at a much lower cost than fighter jets, allowing the military to maintain pressure across multiple fronts despite resource constraints. Even with some limitations, their cost-effectiveness and flexibility may become a key element in the military’s aerial operations, particularly as resistance groups still have yet to shoot a single paramotor down. I suspect paramotor attacks are likely to expand across the country in the coming months given resistance groups’ inability to counter them.”
For further information please see ACLED’s February 2025 Asia Pacific Regional Overview.
ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) is an independent, impartial, international non-profit organization collecting data on violent conflict and protest in all countries and territories in the world.
