A Chinese-made FTC 2000 G fighter jet belonging to the military council crashed in Pharso Township, Karenni State, with the bodies of two pilots discovered at the crash site, according to Karenni revolutionary sources. The wreckage was found around 1 PM on July 3rd. The aircraft was shot down by Karenni revolutionary forces during the battle for Pharso town on the night of July 1st, when it was conducting aerial bombardment operations. The jet crashed between Pharso town and Kyauk Su village after being hit by resistance forces.
One pilot died in the burning aircraft while the other pilot, who attempted to eject, was found dead entangled in a tree with his parachute. Two pistols were recovered from the pilots, with one weapon burned and the other remaining intact. According to the global defense research organization Janes Website, a Chinese-made FTC 2000 G fighter jet costs approximately 8.5 million US dollars.
The military council had purchased six new FTC 2000G aircraft, with three stationed at Namsan Air Base and three at Meiktila Air Base. Lieutenant Colonel Win Han Oo commands the FTC 2000G squadron at Namsan Air Base, while Major Zeyar Htun leads the three aircraft at Meiktila Air Base. In December 2024, the military council further reinforced its air power by acquiring three additional FTC-2000 G fighters (aircraft numbers 1413, 1411, 1407). Previously, on January 16, 2024, another FTC 2000 G aircraft was shot down by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near Nam Phat Ka village in Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State.
