Lee Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Kokang armed group Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) told Than Lwin Times that the Three Brotherhood Alliance, of which MNDAA is a member, will repurpose the anti-aircraft guns seized from the Military Council during the 'Operation 1027' in northern Shan State, for the alliance's air defense.
On November 5th, the Three Brotherhood Alliance declared the acquisition of large anti-aircraft guns from the Military Council during the ongoing Operation 1027, which had persisted for over a week.
The alliance has reportedly occupied 120 military bases and outposts, police outposts, and militia camps during its ten days of operation. In addition, large tanks used in ground operations, howitzers, anti-aircraft weapons, and ammunition were also seized.
The exact number and type of anti-aircraft weapons seized by the Three Brotherhood Alliance were not disclosed. But Lee Kyar Win shared with the Than Lwin Times, "We cannot confirm the exact model and performance of the captured air-defense guns at this time. However we believe they may be 14.5 mm heavy machine guns. If we acquire
anti-aircraft weapons, we will adapt them for use in our battles”, he said.
Throughout Operation 1027, the Military Council has constantly lost bases and, consequently, has been relying more on artillery shelling and air support than ground battles.
The Military Council initiated artillery barrages and airstrikes on several villages located in the conflict-ridden northern Shan State, even in the absence of ongoing combat in those settlements. These indiscriminate attacks have resulted in injuries and fatalities among civilians, including children.
The National Unity Government (NUG) announced that 18 people, including women and children, were killed and 44 others were injured due to the Junta’s shelling and airstrikes in desperate response to Operation 1027.
However the 14.5 mm anti-aircraft heavy machine guns may not be suitable for shooting down jet fighters. According to former Air Force Sergeant Zeya, who has chosen to participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and join the resistance, they can certainly serve as an effective deterrent against helicopters.
Zeya explained, "The 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine guns seized by the Three Brotherhood Alliance may not meet the high-performance standards to deter modern aerial warfare. It would be quite difficult to shoot down contemporary fighter jets with these guns, especially when their numbers are limited. These guns could potentially be moderately effective when the aircraft slows down for bombing, especially if fired with three or four guns. However, they are less likely to pose a significant threat to fighter jets flying at high speeds Nevertheless there's a chance that these weapons could effectively target Mi 17 helicopters, commonly used for logistics by the Military Council. With proper handling and effective use, these guns might even be capable of shooting down Mi 35 helicopters”, he elaborated. (Mi17 and Mi35 are Russian helicopters).
Currently the Military Council is experiencing significant setbacks because of the joint offensive from the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the People's Defense Force (PDF) in northern Shan State, and it is also losing military outposts daily due to the expedited ground operations by the resistance forces in the Sagaing Region.
On November 6th, fierce fighting took place on the Kwan Lon of Northern Shan State, and MNDAA said they managed to capture three more regime camps in Tong Shan and Shin Wan regions in Kokang District.
Meanwhile, the joint forces of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Mandalay PDF attacked two junta camps near Goat Hteik in Nung Cho Township and Shwe Nyaung Pin Village on the morning of November 6th, according to a statement issued by TNLA.
