Reports: Myanmar Junta Uses Paragliders to Bomb Villages in Opposition Areas

What happened

The Guardian Myanmar reports that since late 2024, Myanmar’s military junta has increasingly used motorised paragliders—improvised light aircraft—to conduct bombing raids on villages held by opposition forces. The paramotors carry two or three soldiers who pilot and drop bombs weighing up to 16kg each during silent, low-altitude nighttime attacks. These raids have caused destruction to homes, schools, and religious buildings, alongside civilian casualties and injuries.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. According to activist Lwan Thu in the Sagaing region, where these attacks are frequent, there are "scores of dead and injured" following strikes. The use of “double-tap” attacks, where paramotors return shortly after initial strikes to target rescuers and survivors, is also reported, adding to the civilian toll and chaos.

Data from conflict monitor Acled shows a sharp increase in paramotor attacks, rising from two incidents in 2024 to 353 in 2025, with over 100 already recorded in the first five months of 2026. Alongside paramotors, the junta added gyrocopters in 2025, aircraft capable of faster, higher flights, with 69 incidents recorded in 2025 and 74 in early 2026. Acled reports at least 321 deaths from these aerial raids since 2025, including a bombing at a Buddhist festival in October that killed at least 24 people, including children.

Known from the source

• Myanmar’s military uses motorised paragliders and gyrocopters to conduct bombing attacks in opposition-held territories.
• Paramotor attacks have increased sharply from 2 incidents in 2024 to over 350 in 2025.
• Acled recorded at least 321 deaths from paramotor and gyrocopter attacks since 2025.
• The paramotors carry two or three soldiers who drop small bombs weighing up to 16kg.
• These attacks include “double-tap” strikes targeting first responders and survivors.

What remains unclear

The reported tactic allows the junta to circumvent international arms sanctions and overcome limitations in conventional air power, as these aircraft require minimal infrastructure, are cheap and commercially available, and need little pilot training. This innovation enables strikes deep in opposition areas, intensifying the conflict and compounding hardships for civilians amid ongoing widespread displacement and violence.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of reported casualty figures and whether they are independently confirmed. Confirmation of the military junta's direct responsibility for the paramotor and gyrocopter attacks. Cross-checking the timeline and geographic spread of the attacks beyond Acled data.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: The Guardian Myanmar. Open the source.