Russian arms companies requiring sanctions for supplying the Myanmar military

March 27, 2022

Russia is a major supplier of arms and related equipment to the Myanmar military, and has aided and abetted its international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Since the illegal coup attempt, the junta has murdered more than 2,000 people in attacks against peaceful protesters, in indiscriminate airstrikes and in brutal military offensives that have destroyed towns and villages. Over 450,000 have been forced to flee their homes.

These attacks are enabled by the continued supply of Russian arms and equipment, including military aircraft and parts, and armoured personnel carriers.

According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Russian arms exports “have occurred with the full knowledge that they would be used to attack civilians, in probable violation of international law.”

Russia’s arms sales to Myanmar comes from the same industry that has also enabled the country’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and attacks on Ukrainian civilians.

The companies below are confirmed to have supplied arms and equipment to the Myanmar military since 2018, including following the illegal attempted coup. Some are already sanctioned in certain jurisdictions.

In addition, Russia has exported upgraded BDRM-2M armoured personnel carriers to Myanmar since the attempted coup, under a 2019 deal. Myanmar Witness has reported that the vehicles are allegedly upgraded by AOA 103 Armored Repair Plant in Atamanovka. More research is needed to identify and sanction the businesses involved.

Justice For Myanmar calls on the international community to impose comprehensive sanctions on the Russian arms industry to stop the flow of arms to Myanmar.

  1. Rostec is Russia’s biggest defence conglomerate, comprising 15 holding companies and 70 entities. These include United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), whose subsidiaries PJSC Scientific and Production Corporation "Irkut" and JSC Russian Aircraft Corporation "MiG" are key suppliers of the Myanmar military.

    Irkut is a manufacturer of the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and Yak-130 light fighter jets. In 2018, Russia agreed to sell six Su-30 fighter jets to the Myanmar military. Following the military’s coup attempt, Russia confirmed the delivery of Su-30SMEs, and some have reportedly been deployed by the air force in Kachin State.  

    The Myanmar military has a fleet of MiG-29s that it has commissioned upgrades on. UAC member company MiG has also sent parts to Myanmar since the illegal coup attempt through the Myanmar military arms broker, Sky Aviator Company Limited, according to ImportGenius records.

    UAC has a joint venture in Italy, according to its website, and a partnership with the French company, Thales. Thales did not respond to questions from Justice For Myanmar regarding their partnership with UAC.

    The Myanmar military operates a fleet of M-2, Mi-17 and Mi-24 combat and transport helicopters manufactured by Russian Helicopters. During the Myanmar military’s campaign of genocide against the Rohingya, Russian Helicopters specialists travelled to Myanmar to overhaul Mi-24 helicopters on site. Following the illegal coup, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing travelled to Russia and visited the factory of Russian Helicopters subsidiary, PJSC Kazan Helicopters. Russian Helicopters sent parts to the Myanmar military arms broker Sky Aviator Company Limited in 2019. In a leaked 2019 proposal, Sky Aviator claims to be the exclusive Myanmar representative of Russian Helicopters in Myanmar.

    JSC Concern VKO "Almaz-Antey" is a state-owned arms manufacturer that has supplied the Myanmar military with parts for the maintenance and repair of Pechora 2M surface-to-air missiles, according to records from the trade database, ImportGenius. Last shipments recorded were on February 17, 2021, sent to the office of the chief of air defence.

    Days before the military’s illegal attempted coup, Russia’s defence minister visited Myanmar and signed an agreement with the Myanmar military for the sale of Orlan-10E unmanned aerial vehicles and Pantsir air defence systems. The Orlan-10E is developed by the Special Technology Center LLC. Pantsir S1 is developed by KBP Instrument Design Bureau, under the Rostec subsidiary, High Precision Systems.

    United Engine Corporation’s most recent shipment was a turbojet engine to Myanmar military arms broker Sky Aviator Company Limited in March 2021, according to records from the trade database, ImportGenius.

    Kret, or Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, is a Rostec subsidiary that has supplied parts for Yak-130 fighter jets to the private arms broker, Sky Aviator Company Limited since the attempted coup, according to ImportGenius records.

    UralVagonZavod has sent unspecified military goods to the Myanmar military in 2019, according to records from ImportGenius.

    Rosoboronexport is a Rostec subsidiary responsible for the sale of arms to foreign customers, including the Myanmar military. Rosoboronexport operates a representative office in Myanmar.

    In July, Rosoboronexport head Alexander Mikheev commented that the company has “close cooperation” with the Myanmar military junta. In November, Rosoboronexport’s Deputy Director-General led a delegation to meet Myanmar Navy head Admiral Moe Aung in Naypyidaw. Since the attempted coup, Rosoboronexport has sent multiple shipments of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military and to the arms broker, Sky Aviator Company Limited.

    According to the Rosoboronexport website, the company has also supplied artillery to Myanmar.
  1. AeroTechnikService, LLC has provided Mi-8 parts to the arms broker Royal Shune Lei Company Limited in 2019, according to records from ImportGenius.

  1. Allwe Foreign Trade Company has supplied aircraft parts to Myanmar Consultancy Company Limited and Mil helicopter parts to the Myanmar military since the attempted coup, according to ImportGenius records. Allwe has provided parts to the Myanmar military broker Sixth Ocean Limited. A leaked proposal shows that the arms broker Interstellar Limited is also an agent of Allwe.

  1. PJSC ALMAZ R&P Corp has sold a DMRL-3 meteorological radar to the Myanmar military, according to ImportGenius records and leaked Ministry of Defence budget documents. The equipment comes from Almaz R&P subsidiary, Lianozovo Electromechanical Plant (Lemz Division).

  1. "GRUPPA KOMPANII "AVIASNAB", a Russian trade company, has shipped engine parts to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air Force) since the attempted coup, according to records from ImportGenius.

  2. Aviaspares LLC is a trading company that deals in aircraft parts for Mi-8/17 helicopters and ATR planes. Aviaspares has last sold parts to the arms broker King Royal Technologies Company Limited in January 2021, according to records from ImportGenius.

  1. Aviatechexport Ltd has supplied Mi-17 parts to the arms broker Myanmar New Era Trading Company Limited, according to records from ImportGenius.

  2. Aviazapchast PLC has provided aircraft parts to the Myanmar military since the attempted coup, according to ImportGenius data.

  3. CNS Aviation (Sins Avia Trading House LLC) exported helicopter parts to the Myanmar military arms broker, Synpex Shwe Company Limited in March 2021, according to records from ImportGenius. Synpex Shwe is also a supplier of the Directorate of Defence Industries.

  1. Diagnostika-M Ltd, part of Association Spektr-Group, sold mobile inspection technology to the Myanmar Police in 2019.

  2. AO Gorizont manufactures Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) under licence from the Austrian company, Schiebel Corporation. Gorizont has sent Camcopter S-100 parts and a full-scale training model to the military arms broker, Miya Win International Company Limited after the attempted coup, according to records from the trade database, ImportGenius.

  3. GS Group has provided a production system for the Myanmar Army’s Directorate of Psychological Warfare and Public Relations, according to a leaked 2018-19 Ministry of Defence budget.

  4. Scantronic Systems, which manufactures vehicle inspection systems, has sold equipment to Prime Altitude Company Limited since the attempted coup, likely for use by the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs, according to records from the trade database, ImportGenius.

  1. Simplex LLC, a supplier of aircraft parts, has shipped Mi-17 helicopter parts to the private Myanmar military arms broker Aung Sein Hein Company Limited since the attempted coup, according to records from ImportGenius.

  1. Saint-Petersburg Aviation Repair Company (SPARC), JSC has provided helicopter parts and radio equipment to the Myanmar military in 2020, according to ImportGenius records.

  1. JSC “Tactical Missiles Corporation” subsidiary "Globus" Ryazan Design Bureau JSC supplied an OKA-E-1 aircraft guided weapons preparation station to the Myanmar military in 2019, according to ImportGenius records.

  1. UAZ, a Russian vehicle manufacturer, has sold equipment to the Myanmar Army’s Directorate of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering according to records in the trade database, ImportGenius.

  1. Ural Avia LLC specialises in the supply of aviation parts and repair, and has sold Mi-17 parts to the Myanmar military arms broker Dynasty International Company Limited since the attempted coup, according to records from ImportGenius.

  1. VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation has provided aircraft parts to Motor Sich for re-export to Myanmar, according to ImportGenius records.

Explore the evidence

Spreadsheet with details of the companies for targeted sanctions: Download Excel (14 kb)

Rosoboronexport Mi-38 helicopter proposal to the Myanmar Air Force (November 22, 2019): Download PDF (4.7 mb)

Russian Helicopters proposal for Mi-24P upgrades, through the Myanmar military arms broker Sky Aviator Co. Ltd: Download PDF (6.4 mb)

Leaked proposal for aircraft spare parts, through the Myanmar military arms broker Pan Mya Co. Ltd. (November 27, 2019): Download PDF (8.3 mb)