Myanmar's China challenge: Air Force looses Chinese origin fighter aircraft due to tech failure
Myanmar Air Force
has yet again lost a Chinese origin fighter jet in a crash due to technical failure raising serious concerns over quality of defence equipment produced by Beijing.
A
F-7 fighter jet
of Myanmar Air Force or MAF (F7 is the predecessor of JF17) crashed in Pale Township of Sagaing Region on June 10 wherein one pilot was killed in the crash.
MAF attributed crash attributed to mechanical failure, but People's Libration Army (PLA), a Resistance Group, has claimed that they shot down fighter jet by using Machine Gun during a battle. However, PLA version is under question mark.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Experts said the June 10 incident showed vulnerability of Chinese weapon systems being sold to developing countries including Myanmar and Pakistan.
Earlier frustrated with quality of Chinese origin equipment, the Myanmar Air Force last year acquired six
Sukhoi Su-30 SME
fighter jets from Russia. The Chinese origin JF-17 Thunder fighters with MAF have been facing major technical trouble.
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The Myanmar Air Force acquired the Russian warplanes under a $400 million contract signed in 2018 and the jets were commissioned at the Meiktila Air Base in Mandalay on December 15, 2024.
The Su-30SME fighters can be be a shot in the arm for the Myanmar Air Force to turn the tide against the rebel groups which have captured territories along the border with India among other areas in the country.
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