Myanmar’s military regime is increasingly using transport aircraft alongside jet fighters to conduct airstrikes across the country, according to a statement released on March 13 by the Blood Money campaign group.
The statement said transport aircraft have become a strategic backbone supporting the military regime’s aerial bombing operations.
According to the report, transport models such as the Shaanxi Y-8 and Harbin Y-12 are capable of carrying and dropping 500-pound bombs, enabling them to function similarly to combat jet fighters during bombing missions.
In addition to combat roles, the aircraft are also used for reconnaissance as well as transporting troops, ammunition, bombs, spare parts and aviation fuel.
The report noted that the Y-8 aircraft in particular serves as a key aerial logistics platform, transporting soldiers, military equipment and supplies to frontline outposts.
According to data cited in the report, the military regime operates up to nine types of transport aircraft. These include eight Chinese-made Y-8 aircraft, seven Y-12 aircraft, two Netherlands-made Fokker 70 aircraft, six French-Italian ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft, an unspecified number of ATR-42 maritime patrol aircraft, seven US-made Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, 20 German-made Grob G 120TP aircraft, and six Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft.
The Arakan Army (AA) reported that on March 8 the military used four jet fighters and four Y-12 transport aircraft to bomb a prisoner-of-war camp in the Darlatchaung area of Ann Township, killing 116 detainees and injuring 32 others.
Caption: A Chinese-made Y-8 aircraft similar to those used by the military regime in aerial operations. Photo – Wikipedia
