China beefs up Myanmar's military power
The help is not limited to the army but covers navy and air force as well. A frigate built with Chinese assistance near Yangon has joined the naval fleet in September.
Besides modernization, China is helping Myanmar meet the shortage of spares for some salvageable vintage equipment, according to information from various sources. Like to its other friendly States, to Myanmar also the military aid is highly subsidized. The value of subsidy component is not available but it is expected to be considerably high since Myanmar’s junta ravaged economy is in a bad shape.
In the year 1989, Myanmar received $1.4 billion American dollars worth of Chinese aid. It was 21.36 million RMBs in 2001. Between 2005 and 2008 China provided aid valued at another 51 million RMBs. For the Year 1994, for which also aid data is available, Myanmar armed forces received 400 million American dollars worth of Chinese military hardware and spares.
1 Chinese yuan = 0.146479 U.S. dollars
F-7 fighters and FI-7 aircraft are also badly in need of an upgrade. Myanmar is looking to China for new model air-to-air missiles and chaff and flare cartridges for at least 50 fighter plane and six F1-7 aircraft.
Another ‘spares’ the Junta wants ‘the all weather friend’ is engines for K-8 aircraft. The existing engines are US– made.
The Air Force has also indented for ejection seats of A-5 fighters ( replacement), overhaul of PL-5B missiles ( 64 no) installed on F-7s, chaff and flare cartridges for
A-5 fighters.
It is also in need of overhaul of following test cars used for repairing and maintenance of weapons installed on F-7 fighters
• Power supply trucks (NY-1077-2)
• Air Compressor Truck (Y-14)
• Air Charging Truck (CQ-1)
• Missile test Truck (PD-3)
A division level war –game simulator for training in tactics and three simulations systems for the artillery to impart training in fire detection training are among a host of items China has promised to provide at highly subsidized rates to Myanmar. expected to be provided bon the shopping list.
The Directorate of Artillery is said to souring from China the following.
122 mm (D-30-2) HE : —25680 nos
122 mm HE ER FB :— 17120 nos
122 mm HE ER FB BB : —10272 nos
ARMY
The following acquisitions reportedly figure very high for the directorate of Armoured Unit.
• 30mm UOF-8 (HB-T) :- 13528 Rds
• 30mm UOR-6(HE-I) :- 10500 Rds
• 30mm UBR-6(APT) :- 12868 Rds
• 30mm Grenade (vog-17):- 9306 Rds
• 7.62mm (1 PS) (Ball) :- 149600 Rds
• 7.62mm Tracer (T-46) :- 9200 Rds
• 81mm SMK Grenades : – 519Rds
China is expected provide maintenance and service facilities for fire control systems and night vision devices of three types of tanks (59D, 69II and 63) and Type 92 Armored personal carriers (APCs). These were procured from Chinese army, PLA in1990.
Accessories like driving simulator, gunnery simulator and war game simulator for these tanks are also likely to come from China at reduced rates.
COMMUNICATIONS – ARMY
The Directorate of Communications is seeking digital trunk radio systems (25 sets), radio relay communication sets (10 sets), and advance quality jammers (10 sets) besides parts for direction finders (10 sets) and V-Sat terminals (50 sets)
Reflecting its dependence on China, Myanmar army has projected spare parts for missiles and mechanical and electrical parts for submarine destroyers amongst its priority items under ‘military aid’ or at reduced rates.
1. 76mm OTO Melara – &
nbsp; 10 numbers
2. Spares for C-80 1 A Missile 57 items
3. Spares for Missile director 13 items
4. Spares for Missile Complex 20 items
5. Spares for 352 Missile Attock Radar: 26 items
6. Mechanical/Electrical parts for
7. Eight Yan 037 Submarine destroyers: 12 items each
8. Sonar H/SJD 303 (or) Thomson
Sintra SS12 : 10 numbers
9. 037-Ig Engine & Electrical spares
(12 VE 230 ZC Diesel Engine) : 354 items
Other items on Myanmar Navy’s shopping list are Hyperberic Chamber, Spiormeter, decontamination equipment and contamination level checking equipments.
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