Where are drones used? Does SAC use drones? Yes, they do. Where? What happens in using drones? Well, they give out a drone to each battalion for reconnaissance and scouting where it is dangerous to go on foot, for locating enemies.
Who handles the drone? In each battalion, they chose an officer to pilot it. He has to attend training sessions for piloting it. After that, he is responsible for the drone.
What happens then? When he’s attending the training, there is no one to pilot it. So, when it is necessary to use the drone, someone who knows a thing or two about the drone have to pilot. It is pretty chaotic as that person isn’t properly trained. The drone will crash without anyone shooting it. They don’t get any information and anyone who order to use it and the pilot has to pay for the damages. I have experienced it myself.
Lieutenant Aung Kyaw Htet was the personal assistant of the battalion commander at KhaLaYa 223. They had a pilot trained for the drone but left behind for many reasons. When ordered to scout around the camp hill for the enemy forces, they didn’t dare to complain about not having a pilot. And so, PA Kyaw Myo Htet, who knows a little about the drone had to pilot. They tried at it and got the drone flying around the base. So, they tried to carry out their orders and fly the drone to the place to scout. But the weather there was pretty bad and almost impossible to do reconnaissance work. They reported back about this but as the military’s motto says, “We don’t want to know about the holes in the bucket. Just bring back water.” As they flew it further, they can’t call it back anymore. They didn’t know why it crash landed as there was a lot of fog and snow. They didn’t get any information either. They reported this also but no one wanted to take responsibility for it. All they got back was the order to pay for the lost damage by the overseer and the pilot. They were forced to do it and had to take care of the consequences too. The junior officer Kyaw Myo Htet had to pay half of the 20 lakh drone from his salary. He couldn’t use his salary for himself let alone sending back to his family. Just like that, no one wanted to pilot the drone anymore as they are afraid of it being destroyed.
Not only the juniors but also the senior generals were afraid of it as well. Well, probably not the same kind. Let me tell you about the difference. Once, there was a long battle between one of the EAOs and SAC. You would know about the famous tower hill battle. Back then, I was a personal assistant of lieutenant colonel Aung Kyaw. I had to follow him around everywhere day in, day out. When that battle happened, the chief of BSO (Bureau of Special Operations) along with other generals, supervise the battle in the war room. Among them, there were the second in command of SaKaKha 21, the commander of SaKakha 10, tactical officers from artillery and their PAs, and other majors and generals. I had to stay beside my commanding officer. So, I knew every order they give and the conditions of the battle.
One of the reports from the frontline was that one of the forward artillery bases was bombed by a drone and there were casualties. After getting the report, the chief ordered to inform other fronts to beware of the drone. Everyone was thrown off balance since the chief give the order.
Not long after that, drones flew over our base. It is not uncommon to see drones but because of the recent bombing, everyone was on edge when they saw them. They were afraid of bombs.
One day, everything was so peaceful from the morning. Everyone was relaxed, even the infantry divisions since there was no movement. Some senior officers were talking to their wives on the phone while walking along the corridor. Some were smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. Most of us were dozing off after the meal. Then, suddenly, drones flew over our heads. There were like three or four of them. They flew so low that we can even hear the engine buzz. Everyone was caught off guard. We came to our senses when one yelled, “Drones! Drones! I think they are bombing us. Take cover.” Everything went into chaos.
Just then, I had to witness the quick reflexes of the so-called old generals. They were so quick I didn’t even know how they got inside. Everyone, whether they were on duty, dozing, or talking ran inside quicker than lightning. They couldn’t care about tripping or bumping into each other.
Even me and my commander got stuck running into the room. The chaos was inevitable.
Since then, they formed squads to shoot down drones. It consists of five or six people with anti-drone guns and motorcycles and was ordered to position around the base and shoot down any drone that fly over headquarters. But since the formation, no drones fly over. People from the anti-drone squad were always looking up. They were always on alert and looking up into the sky. It was amusing to look at them sometime. I had never heard of their duty, to be honest.
One eventful evening, drones flew over. But since we have had experience, there wasn’t chaos. We looked for the drones. We were curious about where they came from and where they went. Then, we heard, “Bang. Bang. Boom,” out of nowhere. Chaos ensues just like before. We didn’t know where it was shooting from and had to take cover. Just then, we realized it was the anti-drone squad. And yes, it was them. I guess they were waiting for this opportunity for ages. They were shooting with such passion we could only hear gunfire. After a short while, one of them came forward and ordered them, “Stop! I said stop. You are killing everyone. Stop your reckless act. There are people up there.” Only then they stopped and looked each other with blank faces. Well, of course, they would be like that. They were just following their orders. But as everybody knows, the military is just like that. Changing their orders every second.
There was only one drone catcher to shoot drones in the whole regiment. If multiple drones were to come and attack from every direction, we could only watch. It is the reality. There was only one officer with that gun. Once there was an attack from two directions. He could only run back and forth and do nothing. The only thing that happened is he got scolded for not being able to do something.
My point is that everyone in the military is afraid of drones, from the recruits to the top ranks. Even the so-called leaders are scared of drones. They have the technology to prevent attacks but they can’t use them because of their incompetence and will always be in disorder.
Yours respectfully,
Htet Myat