Another couple of Russian-built Su-30 fighters arrive in Myanmar

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

A COUPLE OF SUKHOI Su-30SM Flanker fighters have been recently delivered to Myanmar, informed sources said today (Dec.21).

The latest couple of Russian-built Su-30s which arrived at Naypyidaw air force base are joining four others of the same type which had been delivered to the Myanmar air force last year.

Myanmar junta chief-turned-prime minister Myint Aung Hlaing presided over the handover ceremony for the newly-procured, twin-engine, two-seat multirole combat aircraft.

In addition to the Sukhoi Su-30SM Flanker jets, the Myanmar air force currently deploys a squadron of Russian-built MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters and that of Chinese/Pakistani-built JF-17 Thunder fighters.

The Myanmar air force jets have reportedly conducted strike missions against armed ethnic rebels in varied regions of the country.

Meanwhile, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier is currently visiting Singapore amidst escalated tension in the South China Sea between the Chinese and Philippine navies, the sources said.

The US navy’s Carrier Strike Group One has made presence felt as maritime provocations and standoffs have been intermittently reported around Spratly Islands, not very far from the island republic where CVN-70 Carl Vinson is currently anchored.

Earlier this year, USS Nimitz ( CVN-68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) aircraft carriers had visited Singapore, viewed as one of the US’s treaty allies in the Asia Pacific region, besides the Philippines.

CAPTION:

Russian Su-30SM fighter jets. Top photo: Wikimedia Commons/Alex Beltyukov and published by The Diplomat, Front Page photo: Airforce Technology

Also read: US offers faster 4.5-generation F-16 fighter jets to Thailand

F-16 jet fighters to be decommissioned in next 5 years: Air Force Chief

US puts off sale of F-35A fighters: Air force source

Japan, Asean agree to boost maritime security cooperation

Myanmar ethnic minority fighters seize town from military