Local defence forces attacked junta soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee militia members using homemade drones and killed at least 10 of them in Sagaing Region on 25 June.

The attack on the junta soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee members stationed in Kyauk Khe Tat Village in Minkin Township started at midday. The drone bombs and mortar rounds hit houses in the village where 200 junta soldiers were stationed, said Ko At, a press officer with the Kyauklonegyi People's Defence Force (KLG PDF), one of the defence forces involved in the attack.

He said: “Five bombs were dropped by drones, and six rounds of 60 mm mortar were fired in the attack on Military Council soldiers. I believe at least ten Military Council soldiers were killed. We are still assessing the damage and number of army casualties.”

The drones used in the attack were Shar Htoo Waw fixed-wing homemade drones built by KLG PDF. They have been making Shar Htoo Waw drones since last year, but they do not have the finances to produce large numbers of drones.

A PDF member involved in drone production said: “The drone can travel up to six or seven miles depending on battery resistance. An unmanned drone costs around 1,300,000 Kyats to produce. We are attempting to produce a large number of drones with the goal of distributing them to revolutionary forces throughout Myanmar.”

The attack on Kyauk Khe Tat Village was carried out by KLG PDF and other local people’s defence forces (PDFs).