Htun Aung
Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Air Force and Burmese air force officer
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Htun Aung (Burmese: ထွန်းအောင်; pronounced [tʰʊ̀n àʊɴ]; born 1967) is a Burmese military air force officer who has served as the Minister of Defence since April 2026. A member of the Tatmadaw, he previously served as Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Air Force from 2022 to 2026.
- Min Aung Hlaing
- Ye Win Oo
Htun Aung | |
|---|---|
ထွန်းအောင် | |
| Minister of Defence | |
| Assumed office 10 April 2026 | |
| President | Min Aung Hlaing |
| Preceded by | Maung Maung Aye |
| Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Air Force | |
| In office 12 January 2022 – 10 April 2026 | |
| Appointed by |
|
| Preceded by | Maung Maung Kyaw |
| Succeeded by | Lt Gen Tun Win |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1967 (age 58–59) Burma (now Myanmar) |
| Defence Services Academy | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Myanmar |
| Branch/service |  Myanmar Air Force |
| Rank |  General |
| Battles/wars | Internal conflict in Myanmar |
Military career
Htun Aung graduated from the 29th batch of the Defence Services Academy.[1] In 2020, he sat on the board of directors of Myanma Economic Holdings Limited, a military-owned conglomerate.[2]
On 12 January 2022, Htun Aung was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Air Force, succeeding Maung Maung Kyaw, who was forced to retire from the military.[3][4] Prior to his promotion, he served as Maung Maung Kyaw's chief of staff.[5]
In the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, the Burmese military has launched airstrikes against anti-regime resistance forces and civilians.[6] On 30 June 2022, under Htun Aung's command, a Burmese fighter jet violated Thai airspace after flying 4–5 kilometres (2.5–3.1 mi) into Phop Phra district in Thailand's Tak province.[7][8] Htun Aung subsequently issued an apology to this Thai counterpart, Napadej Dhupatemiya.[8] The governments of the European Union, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom have sanctioned Htun Aung for human rights violations.[9]
Personal life and controversies
Htun Aung has one son reportedly named Chan Nyein. His name has appeared in various reports related to financial assets connected to his father. According to some accounts, a number of properties and investments were registered under Chan Nyein’s name, a practice believed to have been used to bypass international sanctions placed on members of the military leadership.
In 2022, Chan Nyein was also involved in a widely discussed incident at a restaurant in the capital city. During a gathering with several associates, a dispute occurred between his group and another group of patrons. The confrontation reportedly escalated after a verbal exchange. Following the incident, the other group was detained by security forces on criminal charges. Critics and observers later questioned the circumstances of the arrests and suggested that political connections may have influenced the outcome.
The incident received public attention and was cited in discussions about the influence of military elites and their families within the country’s legal and political systems.