Myanmar rebels use 3D-printed weapons against military junta

3D printing technology has reached a new dimension: it is now being used by rebels in Myanmar to fight the military junta. This development underscores the transformative power of the technology while raising questions about regulation.

In February 2021, a military coup plunged the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar into crisis. The rebels fighting the military junta, known as the Tatmadaw, have turned to 3D printing technology due to a lack of access to conventional weapons. In particular, they are using the design of the FGC-9, a semi-automatic pistol developed by German-Kurdish weapons designer JStark1809 and published on a platform online.

The FGC-9 consists of several 3D-printable components, including the upper and lower receivers, the pistol grip and the stock. The barrel is manufactured by electrochemical machining. The cost to print and assemble such a gun is about $300 to $500, with the printer costing about $200 and the machining equipment about $100. Since the design was released, improvements have been made to make it more customizable and printable, including a 3D printable trigger system.

#Myanmar: Anti-junta guerrillas in Myanmar building JStark’s FGC-9 3D-printed gun. The FGC-9 has been seen in the hands of rebels in Myanmar a number of times now, and have been used in combat against government troops. pic.twitter.com/lHkymyUChH

— POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) February 26, 2023

The situation in Myanmar raises important questions about the regulation of 3D-printed weapons. While the ability to manufacture weapons might be seen as necessary in a struggle to restore democratic governance, there is a risk that the design of the weapons will be available to many people.

Several governments are therefore trying to make it more difficult to manufacture 3D-printed weapons and to ban the production of so-called ghost guns. These initiatives focus not only on 3D printing, but also on other manufacturing methods that allow weapons to be produced.