Beginning in December 2021, and especially during January and February 2022, as part of the improvised weapons production efforts of the many armed groups affiliated with the People’s Defense Force throughout Myanmar, particularly in Sagaing Region, in the northwest of the country, extensive documentation of improvised shoulder-fired launchers for firing improvised ammunition has been evidenced. A review of the extensive documentation revealed there are several models of improvised shoulder-fired launchers, the vast majority of which are fitted with an electric firing mechanism, activated by pressing a button that acts as a trigger, and fires the ammunition after initiating a small propellant charge. The ammunition, which was documented in only a few cases to date, appears to be improvised from scratch. Despite the widespread use of the term “RPG” to describe these launchers, we did not identify the use of a rocket motor to support the flight of the ammunition, and they do not have an anti-tank effect. Hence, most of these improvised launchers can be characterized as a model of grenade launchers, most likely for short- to medium-range firing. This is in addition to the use of improvised rifle grenade launchers with mechanical initiation, and various models of stationary firing platforms / cannons, all of which together give the armed groups considerable combat capabilities in the conflict, enabling them to impede and repel the military forces.
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