Images have been released claiming to show a PDF drone from an anti-government group attacking a Myanmar military helicopter over Magway. The drone, an FPV model costing around tens of thousands of baht, reportedly destroyed a Mi-17 helicopter worth several hundred million baht.
On 24 June 2026, the MGY forces, an anti-military government group in Magway Region, directly struck their target, resulting in damage to the helicopter, according to reports from yesterday.
Drone experts analyzing the operation footage found the drone pilot used Air Mode flight, which allows stable control even during rapid directional changes. The control screen showed no communication channel data, suggesting the drone may have been operated via fiber optic cable, providing an advantage against electronic signal interference.
Furthermore, based on the terrain and the wide-angle camera view, it is estimated that the drone was flying at approximately 200 meters above ground level.
The operation duration, from rotor spin-up to target impact, was 2 minutes 22 seconds, or about 142 seconds. Calculating from an average speed of roughly 15 meters per second, the drone’s launch point is estimated to be about 2.1 kilometers from the target.
This incident highlights the trend of using low-cost drones in modern battlefields. The FPV drone used in the attack is valued at about 35,000 baht, whereas the Mi-17 transport helicopter is worth several hundred million baht, demonstrating the tactical cost-effectiveness of unmanned aircraft in damaging high-value enemy equipment.
There has been no official confirmation from the Myanmar military regarding any damage resulting from this attack.