How paragliding soldiers carrying bombs rain destruction on Myanmar’s villages | The Guardian

Source: The Guardian | 22 June 2026

[...]What began as a handful of attacks in late 2024 has rapidly evolved into a nationwide tactic as Myanmar’s civil war grinds into its sixth year. Data collected by the conflict monitor Acled recorded just two incidents involving paramotors in 2024. By 2025, that figure had surged to 353. More than 100 attacks were recorded in the first five months of this year alone.

In 2025, the Myanmar military added another aerial asset: the gyrocopter, a small rotor-propelled aircraft capable of flying faster, higher and over longer distances than paramotors. Acled recorded 69 incidents involving gyrocopters in 2025 and a further 74 in the first four months of 2026. 

[...]In recent years, resistance forces have seized territory from the military, prompting the junta to expand its air power with improvised aircraft – typically used by explorers and hobbyists – to strike opposition-held areas beyond the reach of its ground troops. “It’s a significant development in this conflict,” says Su Mon, a senior Asia-Pacific analyst at Acled. “The impact is devastating.”

[...]The geographic spread of the attacks appears to be increasing. Acled data shows paramotor attacks were recorded in 42 townships during 2025. In the first four months of 2026, they were used in an additional six townships.

For every two attacks there is at least one death recorded, says Acled, with some leading to dozens of fatalities. The group has recorded at least 321 deaths from paramotor and gyrocopter attacks since 2025.[...]

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