The Mon State Defense Force (MSDF) is working to conduct maritime and waterway operations with the help of technology, according to officials from the group.
The group is developing unmanned kamikaze speedboats to gather military intelligence on enemy forces operating in coastal and river areas and to carry out maritime missions more effectively. Officials said initial tests have been successful.
An MSDF spokesperson said the group spent about a year gathering the technology and equipment needed to develop the kamikaze speedboats before successfully testing them in recent days.
“The main objective is to conduct operations against the military junta’s naval forces. We learned this technology from people who had served in the navy and joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). After learning from them, our members put it into practice. We completed the boats recently and tested them on the water. The test was successful,” the spokesperson said.
The group is continuing to seek ways to produce more of the technology and equipment and to carry out more effective operations, the spokesperson said.
“Our work did not stop after the successful test. We plan to improve these kamikaze boats so they can be used for operations over longer distances and to further upgrade the technology,” the spokesperson added.
The MSDF also invited those who can provide assistance with more effective technologies and technical improvements to support its efforts.
The group said it would share technology and intelligence with nearby revolutionary forces seeking to conduct maritime operations when necessary.
The MSDF was formed in September 2021. It has since been fighting against military rule in cooperation with other Mon revolutionary groups and armed resistance forces.
Revolutionary forces fighting against military rule have increasingly developed and used their own technologies for drones and aerial operations, weapons production, battlefield communications and intelligence gathering, according to resistance leaders.
IMNA