Myanmar Navy Commissions its First LPD Amphibious Assault Ship

28 Desember 2019

UMS Moattama and inside the LPD (photos : Myanmar and Asean Military Update)

The Myanmar Navy (MN) has commissioned its first-ever landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ship.

Named UMS Mottama (with pennant number 1501), the 122 m-long South Korean-built ship entered service in a high-profile ceremony held on 24 December at a Yangon naval wharf to mark the 72nd anniversary of the MN.

Presided over by Myanmar Armed Forces’ (Tatmadaw’s) commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and MN commander Admiral Tin Aung San.

The ceremony also involved the induction of a new coastal transport ship, UMS Myitkyina, along with two 27 m-long fast patrol boats, two seagoing tugs, and two 20 m-long riverine patrol vessels, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

(Jane's)

China Sells JF-17 Thunder Fighters to Myanmar at Unbelievably Low Prices

21 Desember 2019

JF-17B Block II fighter jets (photo : Myanmar Tactical Amateurs)

Myanmar is the first country to buy JF-17 Thunder fighters developed by China and Pakistan. Currently, the country has ordered 16 JF-17 Thunder worth about 250 million USD and began to receive them on the service.

With the current unit price of about $ 25 million, which is cheaper than the French AMX 56 tank costing $ 27.5 million, the JF-17 Thunder fighter developed by China and Pakistan is being evaluated as a combat line. New cheapest muscle in the world.

Myanmar signed a contract to order 16 JF-17 Thunder from China since 2015.

Surprisingly, instead of paying $ 25 million / unit, Myanmar had to pay only $ 16 million / unit. At this price, the JF-17 fighter is only marginally more than half the price of a French tank, a price that cannot be cheaper for a newly produced fighter.

Thus, the total contract value for these 16 fighter jets is only over 250 million USD. This amount is only enough to buy 3 F-16 Block 70/72 or 3 Su-30SM.

Observers said that in order to stimulate demand for this aircraft, China agreed with a cheaper price to promote the image of JF-17 in the export market.

Despite being advertised with many outstanding features and surprisingly low prices, but so far, apart from Pakistan as a developing country, Myanmar is the only country to order this fighter.

Although Beijing has repeatedly stated that there are dozens of customers showing interest and preparing to buy JF-17, so far no new customers have been revealed.

Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder also known as Fighter China-1 (FC-1) Kiao Long in China, is a single-seat all-purpose fighter, developed by China and Pakistan on the basis of J-7 fighter (MiG-21 of Soviet Union).

The aircraft had its first flight in August 2003, introduced in March 2017.

The JF-17 uses a Russian-made RD-93 engine, China also studies and produces the WS-13 engine, but it is considered to be unstable.

Regarding the weapons system, JF-17 is equipped with 7 weapon pylons that can carry up to 3.4 tons of weapons including air-to-air and anti-ship missiles.

The types of missiles included include PL-5, PL-9C, PL-12 and AIM-9, Chinese-made C-802A anti-ship missiles, and several types of bombs.

It is also equipped with a GSh-23-2 23mm twin barrel automatic cannon or a GSh-30-2 30mm double barrel gun.

JF-17 is equipped with radar that can track 10 targets at the same time and destroy 2 targets simultaneously.

Target detection range in front of the aircraft is over 75km and behind is 35km, target detection at sea is 135km away.

Pakistan plans to buy 110 of these aircraft, 50 of which will be delivered from China and the rest will be produced domestically and will be upgraded to Block II standards.

It is known that the JF-17 fighter version that Myanmar ordered from China is called JF-17 Block II.

This version was born in 2013, began testing in 2015.

Compared to Block I, the Block II version has more aerial refueling, improved aerodynamic styling, and enhanced electronic warfare.

Currently, Beijing and Pakistan are trying PR for this fighter line in the hope that they will be more attention in the export market.

(KienThuc)

Myanmar Showed ATR-42 MPA after Upgraded

17 Desember 2019

ATR-42 MPA of the Myanmar AIr Force after upgraded (photo : MMMlitary)

In 2017, Myanmar revealed 2 upgraded ATR-42 MPAs which were well received since long time ago.

Here is an inside view of Myanmar Airforce's MPA enpowered by the state-of-art AESA radar.

(Myanmar and Asean Military Updates)

Phuket Navy Base to 'Monitor' Myanmar Sub in Andaman

10 Desember 2019

Myanmar acquies second-hand INS SIndhuvir Project 877EKM submarine from India (photo : Livefist)

BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Navy is preparing to deal with what it calls a 'new situation' after learning that Myanmar is going to send its attack submarine to the Andaman Sea for security missions.


The diesel-electric Kilo Class submarine, which Myanmar acquired from India, is scheduled to start operations from Dec 24, spokesman and deputy chief-of-staff Prachachart Sirisawat said.

The navy's Third Area Command, based in Phuket, which oversees territories in the Andaman Sea, has been told to keep a watch on the submarine, which can operate underwater for up to 45 days.

Myanmar plans to use its submarine for "security and protection of its maritime interests,” said Vice Adm Prachachart, the Director-General of the Naval Acquisition Management Office.

The Indian government has been purchasing the Russian-made Kilo Class submarines since 1980 and made further adjustments to improve capacity at its shipyards.

The model, with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, is well known for its quiet operation. The sub can be equipped with various types of weapons and can dive to a depth of 300 metres and accommodate 52 officers.

"Myanmar is going to increase its military efficiency," Vice Adm Prachachrat said, referring to its plan to enter talks with Russia to buy more Kilo Class submarines.

Phuket naval base and Andaman sea (image : GoogleMaps)

RTN's submarine

Thailand is in the process of buying three submarines from China after the previous coup-appointed government approved the 36-billion-baht purchase, which was the first in over 60 years.

The navy signed an agreement to buy a Yuan Class S26T submarine worth B13.5 billion from China in 2017.

Its construction began on Sept 7 last year in China, and it is expected to be delivered to the navy in 2023.

The navy reportedly has asked the government to allocate 12 billion baht to buy the second submarine, but a final decision will depend on the House of Representatives, which is considering the state's B3.2 trillion budget request for the 2020 fiscal year.

"We're scheduled to clarify the purchase plan today," Vice Adm Prachachart said, referring to their meeting with the House special committee, which has been set up to scrutinise budget details.

Vice Adm Prachachart also rejected rumours about a "budget suspension," which surfaced last month that the navy would suspend the submarine plan and instead buy less expensive frigates.

"That is confusion in communication," he said.

(ThePhuketNews)

Myanmar Received Second-hand Kilo 877EKM Submaine from India

09 Desember 2019

Indian Navy INS Sindhuvir (photo : Indian Navy)

INS Sindhuvir, a Kilo class submarine (Project 877EKM), will be delivered to the Myanmar Navy for active service as the first submarine of national history.

INS Sindhuvir is a diesel-electric submarine Kilo class, 1 in 10 Russian built as required by the Indian Navy. Entered into service in 1988, upgraded to 08733 in 1999, displacement of 3.076 tons and able to install weapons systems as standard by the Russian Navy.

The procurement of second-hand submarines from the Indian government is based on the strategic planning of Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal. Although the Chinese government had previously proposed an old submarine delivery project at the same time as the delivery of the 035G type submarine "Ming" for Bangladesh, but Myanmar does not consider this project. 

With the balance of the maritime strategy in the Bay of Bengal they therefore need a more powerful submarine in the fastest time possible. Therefore, negotiations with India have reached an agreement that has been approved by Russia which is like raising the level of military relations between the two nations which allows Myanmar to be able to procure more powerful submarines under the arms procurement exchange from India. The Myanmar submarine crew has completed their training in India and have taken the boat to Myanmar in the past few days.

The Myanmar Navy has not revealed the name of their submarine. But it is already clear to prepare to officially enter service on the establishment of the Myanmar Navy on 24 December, which will make Myanmar the 5th nation in ASEAN with submarines in service. It is expected that this is the first step to prepare for a submarine training,  before procurement of new submarines from Russia that are negotiated at the government level in the future.

The procurement of this submarine is part of Army long-term military improvement program. Which has been started by General Awawasmin Ong Lai, Commander in Chief of the military, who has been continuing the operations since he took office in 2011.

(TAF)

Myanmar's Yak-130 Trainings with Various Weapons

07 Desember 2019

Myanmar Air Force's Yak-130 trainer/light attack aircraft with various weapons include R-73E short-range air-to-air missiles, S-13 122mm rocket on B-13 rocket pod, S-8 80mm rocket on B-8 rocket pod and SNPU-130 pod 23mm gun pod (all photos : Tatmadaw Lay)

The images published on Burma's online social media show images of advanced Yakolev Yak-130 Russian jet fighters of the Myanmar Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay) on the ground and while flying in the air equipped with various weapons on the plane. Confirms that the Myanmar Air Force is ready to practice the use of these weapons with the aircraft.

12 Russian Yak-130 jet fighters assigned by the Russian Air Force has the first set of revealing pictures showing various types of weapons, including short range air-to air R-73E missile launcher, 122mm S-13 air-to-surface rocket in 5 B-13 rocket tubes, 80mm S-8 air-to-ground rocket in capacity B-8 rocket 20 rounds and a SNPU-130 air cannon with a 23mm GSh-23L air cannon with 120 ammunition capacity.

(AAG)