The junta has resorted to getting pilots of powered paragliders known as paramotors to drop bombs on military and civilian targets in Magway Region, since the beginning of February 2025.

Generally, with paramotors a pilot hangs suspended by lines from a large non-rigid wing similar to a parachute with a motorised propellor attached to their back which allows them to fly in any direction they want. Sometimes instead of the pilot being directly attached to the wing they are suspended from the wing in a small wheeled gondola.  

Generally they can only fly at between about 40 to 70 km per hour, depending on the wind direction. They make a large, relatively slow moving vulnerable target and are generally not used in combat, though recently Hamas used paramotors when it attacked Israel on 7  October 2023.

A resident of an undisclosed village in Magway Region said: “On the night of 1 February a paramotor dropped three incendiary bombs on village houses, setting one of them on fire.”

Also on 1 February in Magway Region, junta paramotors carried out three bombing runs on houses in Yaeyin Village, Pwintbyu Township and paramotors dropped bombs on the northern part of Seikphyu Township.

Also, since 8:00 am on 1 February residents of the neighbouring towns of Magway and Minbu, in Magway Region, have occasionally seen paramotors flying over the town.

According to a resistance fighter from Magway Region the junta is only using paramotors in flat areas and they can, more than likely, be easily shot down with a 0.50 caliber heavy machine gun.

Sources also report that paramotors were seen taking off from Magway Airbase and flying in a northwesterly direction at around 11:00 am on 1 February.