The  National Unity Government (NUG) ‘ s Defence Ministry has confirmed the discovery of the wreckage of a Military Council fighter jet, that resistance joint forces based in Karenni State had shot down using 0.5 machine guns on November 11th.

The wreckage of the fighter jet was spotted near a hillside farming hut situated between Kamdi Poli and Mayaw Poli villages in Than Daung Gyi Township, Karen State on November 12th, according to NUG’s statement The resistance joint forces reported that they successfully downed a Military Council fighter plane using two 0.5 machine guns amid the fighting in Karenni State on November 11th, resulting in the aircraft crash. The two pilots ejected via parachutes, and the resistance forces seized the remaining parachute components and equipment.

This  is the first time that one of the regime’s war -planes has been shot down by resistance forces and subsequently confirmed with wreckage found by joint KNDF/KNLA forces.The downed aircraft was reportedly a Hongdu JL-8 (K-8) light fighter produced by China's Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation.

Khu Ri Doo, Adjutant General of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) confirmed to the Kantarawaddy Times that joint resistance forces had successfully downed a Military Council jet. "We can confirm the successful downing of an enemy jet in the Hpruso area. It was a jet”, he said.

The Military Council's fighter jet was downed around 5:00 PM amidst the intense fighting.

"The plane crashed after sustaining hits from two vehicle-mounted 0.5 heavy machine guns, one from the Karenni Army (KA) and the other from KNLA”, a KNLA spokesperson separately noted.  

However the spokesperson for the Military Council, Zaw Min Tun provided another version and informed state-run MRTV that the jet's crash was solely attributed to a technical issue, not enemy fire, a predictable response to deny credit to the increasing effectiveness of revolutionary movement.

He also said that the pilots had successfully ejected and were in communication with Junta forces.

Joint resistance forces in Karenni State have escalated their military offensive, known as Operation 1111, in the vicinity of Loikaw Township since November 11th. Amidst the conflict, the Military Council is predominantly employing airstrikes and shelling as its main defensive strategy, according to frontline sources.