The recent launch of a man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) in eastern Myanmar has highlighted the potential for the proliferation of such weapons, posing new threats to the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) as it takes on a greater role in combat operations across the country.
The MANPADS was fired on 18 February by ethnic forces under attack by a MAF K-8 Karakorum light attack/jet-trainer aircraft and was captured in video footage that was released on social media.
The exact location of the incident, which damaged the jet but apparently did not bring it down, remains unconfirmed.
However, according to social media posts, the weapon was launched from a contested area of Moebye on the southeastern border of Shan State and Kayah State where the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) is active.
Analysis of the footage by Janes suggests the missile's warhead exploded at the outer range of its proximity fuse, resulting in shrapnel fragments merely damaging the K-8. This can be seen in a second video clip that shows the jet flying away, trailing white smoke.
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