According to foreign media reports, on the morning of June 30, local time, a Myanmar Air Force one MiG-29 fighter broke into Thai airspace during a mission and was encountered by the Thai Air Force two F-16 Fighter interception. According to reports, after the incident, Myanmar military spokesman Zaw Min Tun immediately explained to the Thai military. Zaw Min Tun said that the MiG-29 fighter jets were providing fire support to ground troops and broke into Thai airspace. It was an accident and we apologize to Thailand.
The Thai military made representations to the Myanmar military government through a diplomat stationed in Yangon, Myanmar2, requesting the Myanmar Air Force to be careful during the execution of its mission and not to violate Thailand's airspace again. According to international airspace usage rules, if a country's military aircraft breaks into the other country's airspace without the permission of another country, the other country's military aircraft can take countermeasures. In other words, the F-16 fighter jets of the Thai Air Force have the right to shoot down the MiG-29 fighter jets of the Myanmar Air Force.
Analysts said that the Myanmar military’s explanation is relatively credible. The recent tensions in the border areas between Thailand and Myanmar are tense. Myanmar’s Karen State on the border with Thailand is preparing to break away from the jurisdiction of the Myanmar military government. A civilian armed force is fighting with Myanmar. The army fought fiercely. In order to control the situation in Karen State as soon as possible, the Myanmar army has recently carried out very frequent military operations in the area. A source familiar with the Myanmar military said that the Myanmar Air Force is cooperating with ground troops in an effort to quell the rebellion as soon as possible. During this process, the Myanmar Air Force inevitably entered Thai airspace by mistake.
In addition, the strength gap between the air forces of Myanmar and Thailand is relatively large, and it is unlikely that the Myanmar Air Force will actively provoke the Thai Air Force. According to statistics, the total strength of the Myanmar Air Force is less than 30,000, and there are about 300 military aircraft in active service. The main fighters include three types, namely Su-30, MiG-29S and JF-17 "Fierce Dragon". The Thai Air Force has the title of "The First Air Force in Southeast Asia" and is quite strong.
According to data released by the Thai military, as of the end of 2021, the Thai Air Force has about 46,000 active troops and about 330 various military aircraft. The main fighters include the US-made F-16 and the JAS-39 "Eagle" imported from Sweden lion". The Thai Air Force not only has advantages in numbers and number of fighter aircraft, but also with the guarantee of abundant military expenditures, the combat readiness of the fighter aircraft and the overall personal quality of the pilots are much higher than that of the Myanmar Air Force.
In addition, the Thai Air Force also intends to import the fifth-generation stealth fighter F-35 from the United States to further enhance its combat effectiveness. Analysts said that although it is possible to accidentally enter Thai airspace, it is an extenuating circumstance. If in the next military operation, the Myanmar Air Force violates Thai airspace again, the Thai Air Force may not simply intercept it. Therefore, Myanmar The Air Force must watch its actions.
