European Aircraft Delivered to Myanmar Junta Despite Sanctions, Fueling Civil War
Yangon, Myanmar – Aircraft Industries, a European aircraft manufacturer, delivered at least four planes to Myanmar’s military junta between September 2024 and October 2025, according to a joint investigation by Le Monde and the British investigative NGO, Center for Information Resilience, through its Myanmar Witness project. The deliveries occurred despite European Union sanctions imposed on the regime, which has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since 2021, resulting in over 75,000 deaths.
The EU prohibits the sale of arms to Myanmar, as well as “dual-use” goods – items with both civilian and military applications. The delivered aircraft, Let 410s, fall into this category, capable of transporting passengers, functioning as ambulances, or being adapted for troop and equipment transport and surveillance missions.
Aircraft Industries did not publicly disclose the deliveries, a departure from its usual practice, and reportedly obscured the flight data of one of the planes. However, open-source data confirms the arrival of the aircraft in Yangon.
When contacted, Aircraft Industries acknowledged the deliveries but maintains the planes are being used solely for civilian purposes, asserting compliance with European regulations. Le Monde and Myanmar Witness have gathered evidence contradicting this claim, indicating the aircraft are being utilized by the Myanmar Air Force.
The Myanmar Air Force is the aerial branch of the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces. The junta has increasingly relied on airstrikes against civilian populations and resistance groups, contributing to the escalating conflict.
This revelation comes amid growing concerns about the role of foreign arms manufacturers in supporting the junta. Recent reports highlight the junta’s acquisition of new aircraft from AVIC, a close partner of Airbus, further enabling indiscriminate airstrikes. The ongoing conflict and the flow of arms raise serious questions about the effectiveness of international sanctions and the responsibility of arms suppliers.
