Myanmar Military Junta Using European Technology to Enhance Drone Attacks, Report Reveals
By Rebecca Ratcliffe, The Guardian — August 7, 2025
The Myanmar military junta has been utilizing advanced European-made technology to shield its drone operations as it continues brutal aerial assaults amid the ongoing conflict in the country, a recent report reveals. The findings have intensified calls for more stringent and coordinated sanctions against the junta.
European “Anti-Jamming” Technology Fuels Drone Capabilities
According to research conducted by Conflict Armament Research (Car), the Myanmar military has obtained sophisticated “anti-jamming” navigation modules manufactured in Europe, which are designed to protect drones from electronic interference and signal spoofing. This equipment was acquired through a Chinese distributor and integrated into the junta’s drone fleet.
Investigators documented several downed military drones in Kayah state, eastern Myanmar, fitted with these modules. Similar technology was also found deployed near Myanmar’s western Chin state. Car’s report further noted efforts to arm these drones by attaching mechanisms capable of releasing munitions beneath their frames, signaling attempts to weaponize civilian UAV hardware.
Context of Ongoing Conflict and Drone Warfare
Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in intense conflict. The military’s seizure of power triggered widespread resistance from anti-junta forces and established ethnic armed groups. These opposition fighters have effectively utilized drone technology, prompting the regime to ramp up its own drone procurement and capabilities.
Myanmar now ranks third globally in drone-related conflict incidents, following Ukraine and Russia, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project. The junta’s growing reliance on drone warfare marks a significant shift in its military strategy as it seeks to consolidate control over contested border regions.
Sanctions and Regulatory Gaps Under Scrutiny
The European Union has maintained an arms embargo on Myanmar since the early 1990s, tightening restrictions in 2018 in response to military atrocities against minority populations, especially the Rohingya. Additional sanctions followed the 2021 coup. Despite these measures, campaigners argue that enforcement remains inconsistent across EU member states, allowing military suppliers to continue transactions with the junta.
Yadanar Maung, spokesperson for activist group Justice For Myanmar, condemned the findings as part of a broader pattern involving exports of military and dual-use technologies including communications equipment, spyware, aircraft parts, and naval systems. She urged the EU to broaden its sanctions regime to comprehensively cut off the junta’s access to weapons, funds, and aviation fuel, coordinated with international partners.
Complex Supply Chains and Challenges to Enforcement
Car’s investigation traced the supply chain: the European manufacturer shipped the anti-jamming technology to a vetted Chinese distributor in March 2023. This distributor sold the equipment as part of a larger shipment to a Chinese company specializing in UAV integration. By March 2024, the finished products reached a company based in Ruili, a key trade hub on the China-Myanmar border—a region experiencing heightened conflict. Car researchers highlighted this transit point as a possible warning sign, although no illegal activity was identified by intermediary companies.
Robert Hunter Perkins, head of research at Car, noted the difficulty policymakers face in regulating drone technologies amid rapid commercial advancements. He emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring, data sharing, and raising manufacturer awareness to prevent future diversions of sensitive technology into conflict zones.
Looking Ahead: Calls for Stronger International Action
The report underscores a pressing need for tighter, harmonized international controls over emerging drone technology and related exports to conflict areas like Myanmar. With the junta’s drone warfare capabilities escalating, experts and human rights advocates warn of increased threats to civilian populations and regional stability.
As Myanmar prepares for elections following the recent end of the state of emergency, the global community faces mounting pressure to enforce and expand sanctions, ensuring that advanced European technology does not continue to fuel violence in the country.
Related Topics: Myanmar conflict, drone warfare, arms embargo, EU sanctions, human rights, Southeast Asia security
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Photo Credit: Free Burma Rangers/AP
Smoke rises from buildings burning in Waraisuplia village, Kayah state, 2022, illustrating the devastating impact of ongoing military operations.
This article is part of ongoing coverage of developments in Myanmar and international security.
