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By The Irrawaddy 18 October 2022
The Myanmar Air Drive has ordered a number of FTC-2000G midrange fighter jets from China, a serious arms provider to the Southeast Asian nation.
The Irrawaddy has discovered {that a} group of roughly eight Air Drive pilots, eight technicians and at the very least two armaments officers traveled to China through Kunming in June.
China has strict COVID-19 laws and the Myanmar personnel needed to undergo quarantine in Kunming. The pilots are recognized to fly the F-7 interceptor, A-5 bomber and Ok-8 W coach and lightweight assault jet for the Myanmar Air Drive.
The brand new jet fighters will change the Myanmar Air Drive’s getting old F-7s and A-5s. As soon as they’re delivered they’re anticipated to be based mostly at Namsang airbase in Shan State, in line with sources conversant in the acquisition.
It isn’t but recognized when the settlement was reached between Beijing and Naypyitaw. The acquisition of Chinese language jet fighters could have begun in 2020, however supply and pilot coaching had been delayed as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and China’s strict coverage on containing the illness.
The FTC-2000G is a sophisticated gentle multi-role coach/fight plane designed and manufactured by Guizhou Aviation Business Company (GAIC) underneath the supervision of Chinese language state-owned aerospace and protection agency Aviation Business Company of China (AVIC).
It’s the export variant of the Guizhou JL-9 coach/fight plane, which is in service with the Individuals’s Liberation Military Air Drive (PLAAF) and the Individuals’s Liberation Military Navy (PLAN).
The 2-seat jet fighter has coaching capabilities with assault and preventing capabilities in fight.
It may be used to carry out pilot flight coaching, aerial surveillance, patrol missions, reconnaissance, digital warfare, close-in air assist and air escort missions.
In April 2020, information emerged in Cambodia and in China’s World Instances that China deliberate to promote the plane to an undisclosed Southeast Asian nation. It didn’t say what number of items had been to be bought, stating solely that the deal was signed in January 2020 and that deliveries would begin in early 2021 and be accomplished after two years.
The price of the jet fighter is round US$8.5 million.
The studies recognized Cambodia and Myanmar as potential consumers, as each international locations are carefully aligned with China, each militarily and politically.
Nicely-known intermediary
The sources acknowledged that Gateways Hong Kong Ltd. was concerned in brokering the deal. A key arms dealer, Gateways Hong Kong Ltd can also be concerned in shopping for spare components for F-7 and A-5 plane.
Dr. Naing Htut Aung, a serious arms provider to Myanmar’s army, was additionally a key weapons seller for the earlier regime led by dictator Senior Basic Than Shwe.
Registered as a director of the Yangon-based Worldwide Gateways Group of Firms Ltd., Dr. Naing Htut Aung has had sturdy ties with successive army leaders, together with present Senior Basic Min Aung Hlaing, sources advised The Irrawaddy.
He’s a key procurer of weapons, spare components and upgrades for the Navy and Air Drive and is an agent for main state-owned Chinese language arms producers, mentioned Justice for Myanmar (JFM), an activist group that screens the army’s companies, citing a private-sector supply with army connections.
He was a intermediary within the Air Drive’s procurement of 16 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan in 2015, and was additionally a key determine in a three way partnership between the Directorate of Myanmar Protection Industries and China Nationwide Aero-Expertise Import and Export Company to supply the Ok-8 jet coach and lightweight assault plane in Myanmar.
His companies, Gateways Worldwide Holding Firm and Worldwide Gateways Group of Firms, had been registered on the similar deal with as Myanmar Consultancy till late 2020.
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