Russia has said that deliveries of Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to Myanmar are on track despite February’s military coup in the Southeast Asian country. Myanmar and Russia struck the deal for the Pantsir systems in January 2021. Dmitry Shugayev, a Russian weapons official, said : "We will deliver (the systems) in line with the terms and conditions stipulated in the contracts".
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Pantsir-S1 firing its twin-30mm guns (Picture source: Army Recognition)

According to The Irrawaddy, Myanmar’s bilateral relations with Russia have reached a new level since the February coup, said the regime’s spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun: “The two countries maintained good relations under the National League for Democracy government but relations with Russia are deeper now. Russia plays the central part in Myanmar’s air defense systems, followed by China. And the cooperation between the air forces is expanding,” said the spokesman.

Quoted by The Irrawaddy, Myanmar regime’s spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said: “The two countries maintained good relations under the National League for Democracy government but relations with Russia are deeper now. Russia plays the central part in Myanmar’s air defense systems, followed by China. And the cooperation between the air forces is expanding,” said the spokesman. Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun praised Russia for its advanced weapons technology. The junta wants a world-class Russian air defense system, he added.

A military delegation from Myanmar, led by General Maung Maung Aye, chief of the general staff, was in Moscow to attend the International Military Technical Forum “Army 2021” and participate in the International Army Games.

Gen. Maung Maung Aye, one of the military’s rising stars, will reportedly inspect Sukhoi Su-30 fighters which Russia is yet to deliver to Myanmar, Orlan-10 drones and the Pantsir-S1 air-defense missile-gun system. Myanmar ordered six Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jets in a contract worth about US$204 million in 2018.

Since the coup, Fomin visited Myanmar in March and coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the international security conference in Moscow and visited several places, including arms factories, in Russia.

Quoted by The Irrawaddy, political analyst Dr. Khin Zaw Win said: “The military regime can only rely on China and Russia now. The regime also gets help from India and Thailand as secondary sources. Russia has become the main country that helps the junta. It recognizes the regime, continues to help and sell it weapons,” Dr. Khin Zaw Win said. “Russia will grab the market from China. The Russian navy wants access to the Indian Ocean. Russia has a big navy but struggles to reach it. China and the US already have forces in the ocean,” he added.