The Thai military reported on 21/7 that a suicide drone was found in the Ban Khun Mae Wa forest in Tha Song Yang district, Tak province, in northern Thailand. The crash site is on a mountainside, approximately 15 km from the Thai-Myanmar border.

"There were no casualties or property damage. Preliminary investigations suggest that the drone, deployed by the Myanmar military to attack insurgent positions, lost control and crashed into Thai territory," the Thai military said.

Suspected Myanmar military drone crashed in a Thai forest on 21/7. Photo: Thai PBS

Suspected Myanmar military drone crashed in a Thai forest on 21/7. Photo: Thai PBS

Thai authorities deployed explosive ordnance disposal experts to disable the warhead on the drone and sent a diplomatic note of protest to Myanmar. A source said this type of drone is commonly used by the Myanmar military to attack positions of the Karen National Liberation Army, an insurgent group.

Myanmar's Ministry of Defense has not commented on the incident.

The Myanmar military and opposing insurgent groups have increasingly used drones and unmanned aerial vehicles to gain an advantage in the conflict, which has lasted more than 4 years.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), based in the US, states that Myanmar trails only Russia and Ukraine in the number of drone attacks. "The accessibility, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness of drones allow the Myanmar military and insurgent groups to achieve operational objectives and minimize casualties," ACLED said.

Nguyen Tien (AFP, Thai PBS, Irrawaddy)