2024-10-02 11:38:25
Rangoon: China is playing a two-sided game in India’s neighboring country Myanmar. China has recently handed over six more FTC-2000G medium-range fighter aircraft to Myanmar. Myanmar’s army can use these fighter planes to bomb rebels. In recent days, ethnic rebels have defeated the Myanmar army and captured many big cities. Since then, Myanmar’s army has been bombing the rebels from helicopters. A large number of civilians are becoming victims of these attacks. Despite this, Myanmar’s army is not ready to retreat.
Myanmar had ordered in 2020
According to The Irrawaddy report, Myanmar had ordered these fighter aircraft in 2020. But, due to the Covid pandemic and China’s strict lockdown, their delivery and training of pilots were delayed. The Myanmar Army received delivery of six warplanes in November 2022, before the second batch arrived in August this year. A former sergeant who fled the air force after the 2021 coup said the new planes have been deployed to Namhasan airbase in southern Shan state, where pilots are also being trained.
How powerful is the FTC-2000G fighter plane?
“Personnel at Namhasan Air Base have posted about the new aircraft,” said the former sergeant, who declined to be named. I have received reports that the government has also purchased equipment for new fighter planes on September 19.” The FTC-2000G is an advanced lightweight multirole trainer/combat aircraft designed and manufactured by Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation (GAIC) under the supervision of state-owned aerospace and defense firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
Which countries have FTC-2000G aircraft
It is an export variant of the Guizhou JL-9 trainer/fighter aircraft, which is in service with China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as well as the Sudanese Army. The two-seat jet fighter can be used for attack, training, air surveillance, patrol missions, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, close air support and air patrol. It can carry up to 3 tons of weapons – missiles, rockets or bombs – and is primarily tasked with conducting air strikes on ground targets.
FTC-2000G aircraft can fly at low altitude
According to analysts, it is a low-altitude flying aircraft, designed for strafing. It can only operate at a maximum altitude of 16,000 metres, making it vulnerable to portable surface-to-air missiles, which can reach up to 5,000 metres. The arrival of the new fighter planes marks the latest increase in military cooperation between Beijing and the regime since Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw in August.