Myanmar received the first batch of two new Su-30 jets from Russia as the country’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Moscow Tuesday on a “private visit.”
The two delivered to the troubled Southeast Asian nation in March are among six new Su-30 jet fighters made in Russia.
Moscow is also said to have sent several trainers and technicians to assist the Myanmar Air Force during the “warranty period.”
Myanmar-based The Irrawaddy news website cited the source of the information as being “former Myanmar Air Force officers who joined the anti-coup movement” in 2021.
Citing their sources, The Irrawaddy reported that the two new Su-30s have been deployed at Naypyitaw International Airport.
Naypyitaw, a location in central Myanmar, is strategically very important because of its location from where Myanmar Air Force can be able to cover the entire country from the far north to the south.
According to the defence intelligence website Janes, most of the Myanmar Air Force's combat assets are located near primary areas of operation, especially near the country's borders.
Russia agreed to sell the six aircraft in January 2018, following a visit by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to Myanmar, according to information by the Russian state-owned news agency, TASS.
Over the years, Myanmar’s military has bought MiG-29 and Su-30 multi-role aircraft, Yak-130 jet trainer and light combat aircraft, Mi-17 transport helicopters and Mi-24 helicopter gunships from Russia.
The Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter jet developed by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air interdiction missions. The multirole fighters were used by Russia in Syria in 2015.
The news surfaced days before the Myanmar junta chief's visit to Moscow.
Russia's embassy in Myanmar told the Interfax news agency that Hlaing was in Moscow on a "private" visit.
"He plans to take part in the opening of a Myanmar cultural centre," it said.
Russian state media reported the military chief was also due to meet officials from Moscow's space and nuclear agencies.
The announcement of the visit comes two days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to keep pressuring Myanmar's junta as he met democracy activists on a visit to neighbouring Thailand.
Since seizing power in a coup in February last year, Myanmar's military government has detained thousands of pro-democracy protesters.