BANGKOK (AP) – Myanmar's military has increasingly utilized commercial paramotors and gyrocopters, low-tech flying machines that enhance their ability to assault civilians and anti-government forces amid the ongoing civil war in the country, according to a report released on Monday by the human rights organization Fortify Rights.
The military's adoption of paramotors, which combine a paraglider with a backpack motor and propeller, was first noted in 2024, while the first documented use of a gyrocopter, an ultralight aircraft with rotor blades similar to a helicopter, occurred in March of that year. Fortify Rights indicated that they have tracked a rise in such attacks throughout the last year, with pilots dropping mortar shells by hand. In some cases, as with the paramotors, pilots would cut their engines to glide silently toward their targets.
According to Fortify Rights representative Chit Seng, "The Myanmar military has found new ways to kill civilians from the sky using paramotors and gyrocopters equipped with manually-dropped, unguided explosives."
In one of the deadliest recorded incidents, a paramotor dropped two mortar shells on anti-election protesters attending a candlelight vigil in the Sagaing region, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 individuals. Another assault involved a gyrocopter attacking a hospital, leading to the deaths of the chief physician and two staff members. Both incidents were corroborated by eyewitness interviews, as reported by Fortify Rights.
The Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, did not respond to requests for comments regarding the findings but consistently asserts that it does not target civilians. The military's actions follow the ousting of elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, which led to widespread opposition and resulted in a civil war. Since that coup, over 7,700 civilians have reportedly been killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an organization that tracks political arrests and civilian casualties.
Fortify Rights indicated that the aerial attacks, particularly in the central lowlands of Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady, and Bago regions, have primarily occurred in areas held by opposition forces, where militia activity is limited and anti-aircraft defenses are almost nonexistent. Although they are slow-moving and vulnerable to attack, these aircraft significantly augment the Tatmadaw's existing aerial capabilities, which include more modern jets and drones.
The report emphasizes the strategic advantages of the paramotors and gyrocopters. They are inexpensive, easy to operate, and capable of staying airborne for approximately three hours while carrying 30 to 40 mortar shells that can be manually dropped on targets. "Paramotors are deployed in areas where armed actors are less sophisticated or lack firepower," commented Morgan Michaels, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He noted that the use of these aircraft alleviates pressure on the military's air force, allowing it to deploy more advanced aircraft to border regions where anti-government militias operate.
Fortify Rights noted a significant increase in aerial attacks beginning in July, coinciding with the military government's announcement of upcoming elections. These attacks surged further in December as the first voting round commenced. With Suu Kyi's party banned and widespread opposition suppressed, critics have denounced the elections as a "sham" aimed at legitimizing military control.
Overall, Fortify Rights documented 304 attacks involving paramotors and gyrocopters against civilians from December 2024 to January 11, 2026. Including military-targeting incidents, the total number of aerial attacks reached roughly 350 within that timeframe. However, the percentage that specifically targeted civilians versus those inadvertently harming civilians is not clearly analyzable based on available data.
Despite some opposition forces gaining territory, the effectiveness of paramotors and gyrocopters reflects the ongoing disadvantages faced by many opposition groups in terms of equipment. "This demonstrates that the Tatmadaw still maintains battlefield dominance across central Myanmar, with opposition forces unable to protect civilians from aerial attacks," said Michaels. While several countries continue to supply the Myanmar military with military equipment, many others have imposed sanctions prohibiting such arms trade.
In a separate analysis, Amnesty International reported the ongoing entry of aviation fuel into Myanmar via "ghost ships" that disable their location tracking to avoid detection. The military government did not address inquiries related to this report, prompting Fortify Rights to call for stricter enforcement of existing sanctions to prevent the sale or transfer of arms and dual-use technologies. "U.N. member states must strictly enforce existing sanctions against the Myanmar military junta," asserted Fortify Rights.
