Myanmar Air Force has commissioned K-8W training planes and ATR-42 and BEECH-1900 De transport planes into service at Ground Training Base of Meiktila Wednesday. Ceremony on introduction of these airplanes was attended by Command-in- Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife, Union Minister for Border Affairs Lieutenant General Thet Naing Win, Commander- in-Chief(Navy) Admiral Thura Thet Swe, Commander- in-Chief(Air) General Khin Aung Myint and senior military officials.

At the ceremony, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said installation of modern military wares plays crucial role for building up capacity of defence services and the new airplanes will strengthen the power of air force.

K-8W training aircrafts were assembled in Myanmar in cooperation with China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) and the Air Force now has a total of 18 K-8 W airplanes. BEECH 1900 D and ATR 42 airplanes can be used for transport purposes and rescues. He quoted General Aung San at Yangon City Hall on July 13, 1947, as saying that, “[We] have just started to set up air force.Normally, air force of our country will need at least 500 airplanes for the first line planes.

The Hongdu JL-8 (Nanchang JL-8), also known as the Karakorum-8, is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft designed in the People’s Republic of China by China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The primary contractor is the Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation. One of its export variants, K-8P Karakorum is co-produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

The JL-8 / K-8 has a multi-role capability for training and, with little modification, can also be used for airfield defense. The aircraft is supposed to be as cost-effective as possible, with a short turn-around time and low maintenance requirements. The JL-8 for the domestic Chinese market and its export variants, K-8E and K-8P, have different powerplants and avionics.