Myanmar as an emerging military power

[tarpitz]

Myanmar military leaders has increased their defence budget in recent years. Although their defence budget is just over 2 billion US$, their actual defence spending would probably go beyond 3 billions US$. They are profiting hundreds of millions every year from the Army owned industries such as MEC and UME. Every year Myanmar military spend around 300-400 millions US$ for new weapon systems. Their goal is simply to become a self-sufficient military in the region. Now they have one of the largest naval shipyards in the region. Frigates, OPV and missiles equipped FAC are being developed from that shipyard.They assemble 600 BTR 3 U APCs and 200 MT-LB MsH IFVs locally. They also produced K 8 under license from PRC. They even have an overhaul facility for MiG 29 SEs. They also have a relatively modernized defence industries and producing artillery pieces to all kinds of small weapons. They even produced trucks and utility vehicles.

Indigenous frigate F 11 Aung Zeya which is fitted with 8xKh 35 AShM

F 12. Second indigenous frigate of Aung Zeya class which is notably a stealth frigate. This ship shows the level of Myanmar Navy's ship building technology. Total of 6 Aung Zeya class frigates will be built. F 13 has already been laid down.These ship will be equipped with Kamov ASW hptr

F 772 indigenous light frigate of Myanmar Navy joint patrolling with an Indian Navy FAC. These ship were originally built as corvettes but later upgraded to light frigate class by fitting 4xC802 AShM, ASW rockets, short range SAM and other electronic systems. F 773 is laid down in 2012

F 771 light frigate of Myanmar Navy. Some sort of SHORAD can be seen on the bridge.

P 491. This stealth OPV is another indigenous ship of Myanmar Navy. Total of 10 ships are planned to built. P 491 and P 492 are in service now and P 493 is laid down last year. These ships are 49 metre long and fitted with 4xC802, 1xAK 630 CIWS and retractable SHORAD system

P 561. A 45-metre long missile fitted indigenous FAC of Myanmar Navy. Total of 20 ships (only 10 ships are fitted with C 801/802) were built between 1995 and 2011. These ships are called 55 series ships in Myanmar Navy.

P 567 and P568 indigenous FAC (Gun) of Myanmar Navy.

F 21 and F 23. Type 053 H frigates of Myanmar Navy. Upgraded with 8xC802 AShM

 

[tarpitz]

Tank Assaulters of Myanmar Army in the parade.

Mranmar Army Nora B 52 truck mounted howitzer in a fire power demonstration in 2012.

A battery of SH 1 155 mm SP Howitzers from Myanmar Army in a live firing exercise

A battery 122 mm D 30 Howitzers from Myanmar Army in a live firing exercise. Total of 242 D 30s are acquired from PR China wit a very low friendship price in 2010.

A 122 mm MLRS with auto loader of Myanmar Army. Total of 50 system are reportedly acquired from DPRK in 2004.

A 122 mm MLRS Type 90 of Myanmar Army. Total of 75 system are acquired from China in 2007.

SH 1 155 mm SP Howitzers from Myanmar Army in the parade

Some T 72Ss of Myanmar Army in an exercise. 3 tank regiments are equipped with T 72Ss. 136 T 72Ss are in service with Myanmar Army

Some T 72Ss of Myanmar Army in an exercises.

 

[tarpitz]

locally assembled MT-LB Msh of Myanmar Army. around 200 vehicles have been built so far

A MT-LB Msh of Myanmar Army performing a fording demonstration in the Armour Centre.

600 BTR 3U APCs are back bones of Myanmar Army mechanized formations. Theses APC are being assembled locally at a rate of 150 vehicles a year. 1000 BTR 3 Us are to be built. BTR 3 U and Mt-LB MsH share the same modular turret systems

Some BTR 3 Us on a indigenously built LST

Indigenously developed Naung Yoe Jeeps

MBT 2000 of Myanmar Army. Older T 69-II are being replaced with MBT 2000. 4 regiments of MBT 2000 have been formed so far

Indigenous MAV scout vehicles. These vehicles are fitted with twin 12.7 mm HMG (this HMG are produced under license from Singapore and designated as MA 16 HMG in Myanmar Army) which can be remotely operated. It can carry 8 fully equipped infantry soldiers and 2 crews. Total of 355 MAV 4 scout vehicles are in service with Myanmar Army

 

[tarpitz]

MiG 29SE of Myanmar AF. 2 MiG 29SE are upgraded and armed with air launched Kh 35 Vs. Myanmar AF is also in the precess of negotiation to buy 2 squadrons (18-24 A/C) of MiG 35 from Russia.

Mi 35 attack helicopters of Myanmar AF. Myanmar AF received 20 Mi 35s from Russia in 2010.

Mi 35 attack helicopter of Myanmar AF hanging national flag in a parade

Mi 2 light attack helicopter of Myanmar AF. 20 Mi 2 LAHs played critical role in COIN

Mi171 gunship of Myanmar AF.

K 8G locally assembled advanced jet trainers of Myanmar AF. These K 8s were extensively used in Kachin civil war as FGA

G 4 Super Galeb FGA of Myanmar AF

BN 2 Islander Maritime Patrol Aircraft of Myanmar AF

 

[tarpitz]

Pechora 2M mobile medium range SAM systems of Myanmar Army in the Armed Forces Day parade.

Tracking radar of Pechora 2M mobile medium range SAM systems in the Armed Forces Day parade.

Tanguska Gun-Missile system of Myanmar Army. Tanguskas enhanced the AD capabilities of field armoured formations. Total of 38 Tanguskas are in service with Myanmar Army. (3 regiment each with 12xTanguskas and 2 for training and reserve

TWS 312 Short Range AD Systems. Combination of Igla and TWS 312 become the one of most effective SHORAD systems. Igla are being produced locally by the Defence Industries of Myanmar Army

TWS 312 Short Range AD Systems, Tanguskas and 25 mm truck mounted AA of Myanmar Army.

MADV (Myanmar Air Defence Vehicles which is based on locally dwvwloped Naung Yoe Jepps) of Myanmar Army. Twin Igla mounted MADVs are standard organic AD systems for the Infanry Brigades. Total of 180 MADVs have been produced as of 2013.

Kub medium AD system of Myanmar Army.

 

[Anubis]

North Korea 2.0!

 

[livingdead]

nice pics, thanks OP for effort.

 

[tarpitz]

Since 2012, Myanmar Army started issue Kevlar helmets and body armours to the infantry units. They constructed a Kevlar factory near the central town of Kyauk Se with the help of the South Korea and Singapore. Here are the recent photos of Myanmar infantry units wearing Kevlar helmets and body armours during the battles in the Kachin state.

Products of Myanmar Army Defence Industries shown in the ASEAN Armies Shooting Event 2013 which is held in Myanmar.

Myanmar Naval units with locally developed bullpup assault rifle MA 1 Mk 3 in a parade. Older MA 1 Mk 2 of the entire infantry units are being replaced with this bullpup MA 1 Mk 3 and this process is expected to be completed by 2016. Small photo in the bottom right corner is the shortened carbine version MA 3 Mk 3. MA 1 is the assault rifle an MA 3 is the carbine. MA 2 is a SAW with a bipot and MA 4 is attached with an under-barrel grenade launcher

An interesting photo of Myanmar Army communications radio sets.

Defence Services Academy of Myanmar Army. It is a triservice academy.

 

[rockstar08]

great work ... nice pics

 

[scholseys]

It appears Myanmar would skin Bangladesh in any war.

 

[Roybot]

Damn, impressive hardware!

 

[illusion8]

K 8G locally assembled advanced jet trainers of Myanmar AF. These K 8s were extensively used in Kachin civil war as FGA

Even Pakistan assembles these as K 8 karakoram...right?

 

[Mike_Brando]

It appears Myanmar would skin Bangladesh in any war.

i am not trying to undermine your country but i must say that the Myanmar Armed Forces are quite well equipped and have access to latest Russian and Chinese weapons.any future war with Myanmar will be a tough one for Bangladesh...

@tarpitz mate what is the name of this light tank?

 

[Erik Karlsson]

Did they buy the tanks and weapons secretly?????

 

[Icarus]

Since 2012, Myanmar Army started issue Kevlar helmets and body armours to the infantry units. They constructed a Kevlar factory near the central town of Kyauk Se with the help of the South Korea and Singapore. Here are the recent photos of Myanmar infantry units wearing Kevlar helmets and body armours during the battles in the Kachin state.

WTF happened to the concept of gun safety? One of my guys pull a stunt like this, I'd put him in the quarter guard and request for court martial proceedings and then there's the bozo with the RPG, don't even get me started.