Ceremony to commission airplanes and helicopters of the Tatmadaw (Air) into service held

Published 17 December 2021

EMG

The ceremony to commission of Yak-130s, K-8 training jets and light fighters and Y-12, ATR-72 transport aircraft, and Eurocopter helicopters to the Tatmadaw (Air) into service was held on December 15.

The 74th Anniversary Ceremony of Tatmdaw (Air) and the ceremony to commission airplanes and helicopters of the Tatmadaw (Air) into service was held at the Air Training Base in Meikhtila, attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The Yak-130 and K-8 fighter jets are training jets and light fighter and they can carry out air-to-air combat, air-to-ground combat, close-range air support interception fighting, armed reconnaissance, and training of transfer.

The ATR-72 600 is a medium-haul aircraft capable of carrying passengers and perform search and rescue operation. The Y-12 is capable of carrying people and cargos, for parachuting, maritime reconnaissance, and search and rescue. The Eurocopter is a medium-haul transport helicopter that is used for VIPs, and passengers and can be used for search and rescue, according to a Tatmadaw statement.

At the ceremony, a MTX-1A training jet developed by the Air Force was also showcased.

In addition to upgrading and re-purchasing multi-role fighter jets for the Tatmadaw (Air), transport aircraft, helicopters and combat helicopters were also purchased, upgrading the control of Myanmar's airspace. Although they are not fourth and fifth-generation aircrafts, upgrading and research must be done for having second and third-generation aircrafts, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the ceremony.

In addition, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said NUG, CRPH and PDF are spreading false information to discredit the military and divide the military and the people. Members of the military and their families should also be aware of the current political situation and he added that special attention should be paid to the four areas such as the security of military information and documents, armament security, military security and operational and training security.