Downed Over Sagaing: The FTC-2000G Shootdown and the Shrinking Skies of the Myanmar Junta

Reading Time: 4 minutes On 10 June, an FTC-2000G light fighter belonging to the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) was reportedly shot down during a low-level airstrike near Pale Township, Sagaing Region. Video footage and still images released by the local People’s Defence Force (PDF) and amplified by the National Unity Government (NUG) media channels clearly show the wreckage of the aircraft, identifiable by its tail section and underwing pylon configuration consistent with the Guizhou FTC-2000G. The pilot’s status remains unconfirmed, though local sources indicate the use of an ejection seat and possible capture. While state media, including MRTV, attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, the photographic evidence, coupled with the aircraft’s sudden loss during active engagement, strongly supports claims of hostile fire most likely a man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS), such as the FN-6. This incident marks a critical inflection point in Myanmar’s civil conflict, indicating that rebel anti-air capabilities