Commentary: Myanmar’s junta may have struck a deal with Russia to boost its imagery intelligence – but why? 

HIGH PRIORITY

The cost of such material may be a factor, but intelligence to support military operations has always been given a high priority in Myanmar’s scarce foreign exchange.

After the advent of a quasi-civilian government in 2012, Myanmar enjoyed more options to collect and analyse imagery intelligence than ever before. 

There was an increasingly wide range of satellite imagery available online, both freely and through commercial arrangements. This included high resolution electro-optical photography and infrared images. 

In addition, the armed forces were believed to operate about 11 Sky-02A surveillance drones, purchased from China. Another 22 had reportedly been built in Myanmar, designated the Yellow Cat A2. These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) could carry digital colour and infra-red video cameras.

Between 2013 and 2015, Myanmar purchased a dozen CH-3A UAVs, also from China. The CH-3A was a combat drone, and not the most sophisticated of China’s unmanned platforms, but it was able to perform long-range surveillance missions and had a useful imaging capability. 

In 2017, for example, the Bangladesh government complained that Myanmar had sent drones over its border to spy on Rohingya refugee movements and, presumably, the rebel Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. After the 2021 coup, CH-3 surveillance drones were spotted over street protests by the civil disobedience movement.