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The military of Myanmar is known as the Tatmadaw (Burmese: တပ္‌မေတာ္‌; MLCTS: tap ma. taw; IPA: [taʔmədɔ̀]). The Tatmadaw has been engaged in battle against ethnic minorities and political dissidents since the 1960s.

The armed forces of Myanmar are ranked twelfth in the world in its number of active troops. Although official figures for Burmese military spending are not available, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in its annual rankings, ranked Myanmar in the top 15 military spenders in the world.

The Tatmadaw's highest officials have great economic and social influence in Myanmar, as the government is currently a military junta. The military is very influential in the country, with top cabinet and ministry posts held by military officers. The Tatmadaw has been accused of crimes, especially against the minorities of Myanmar, as cited by Amnesty International, news agencies (e.g. Reuters), and governments throughout the world (e.g. United States Department of State).

Branches

• Army (Tatmadaw Kyee),
• Navy (Tatmadaw Yay),
• Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay)

Command Structure

• Commander-in-Chief, Defence Services (Senior General)
  • Senior General Than Shwe is the current Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services as well as the Chairman of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

• Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Defence Services (Vice-Senior General)

Army

Commander-in-Chief, Army

General Staff

Chief of Staff

• Military Training General
• Directorate of Signals
• Directorate of Defence Industries
• Directorate of Security Printing
• Directorate of Psychological Warefare & People's Militias
• Directorate of Military Engineers (Field)
• Directorate of Armour and Artillery
• Colonel, General Staff
• Defence Services Museum and Historical Research Institute
• Directorate of Public Relations and Border Troops
• Directorate of Defence Services Computers - DDSC

Chief of Office of Strategic Studies (abolished in 2005)

• Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence - DDSI (abolished in 2005)

Chief of Military Affairs Security (formed in 2006)

• Directorate of Military Affairs Security (replaced DDSI in 2006)

Chief of Bureau of Special Operations

• Regional Military Commands (RMC)
• Light Infantry Divisions (LID)
• Regional Operations Commands (ROC)
• Military Operations Commands (MOC)
• Tactical Operations Commands (TOC)

Adjutant-General's Office

Adjutant-General

• Vice Adjutant-General
• Directorate of Medical Services
• Directorate of Resettlement
• Provost-Marshal Office

Quartermaster-General's Office

Quartermaster-General

• Vice Quatermaster-General
• Directorate of Military Engineers (Civil)
• Directorate of Supply and Transport
• Directorate of Ordnance Services
• Directorate of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Navy

Commander-in-Chief, Navy

• Vice Chief, Navy
• Naval Regional Commands
• Captain, General Staff

Air Force

Commander-in-Chief, Air Force

• Vice Chief, Air Force
• Air Base HQs
• Colonel, General Staff

Independent Departments

• Judge Advocate General
• Inspector General
• Military Appointment General
• Directorate of Procurement
• Records Office
• Central Military Accounts
• Camp Commandants

Order of Battle

Although Myanmar Army organisational structure was based upon the regimental system, the basic manoeuvre and fighting unit is the battalion, known as "Tat Yin" in Burmese, which comprised a HQ unit, four rifle companies(Tat Khwe) with three rifle platoon(Tat Su) each, an administration company with medical, transport, logistics and signals units, a haevy weapon company including motor, machine gun and recoilles gun platoons.

Each battalion is commanded a Lieutenant Colnel (Du Bo Mhu Gyi) with a Major (Bo Mhu) as 2-IC (Second in Command) with establishment strength of 27 Officers and 723 other ranks. Light Infantry Battlions in Myanmar Army have much lower establishment strenth at about 500 and often lead to mistakenly identified as under strength regular infantry battlion.

Regional Military Commands (RMC)

13 x RMC (Tine Sit Htarna Choke)

Total of 337 infantry and light infantry battlions organised in 34 Tactical Operation Commands, 37 independent field artillery batteries supported by affiliated support units including armoured reconnaissance and tank battlions. RMC are similar to "Corps" formation in Western Armies.

• • Northern Command (Kachin State, Headquarters (HQ) at Myitkyina, 33 x Infantry Battalions)
  • North Eastern Command (Nothern Shan State, HQ at Lashio, 30 x Infantry Battalions)
  • Eastern Command (Southern Shan State, HQ at Taunggyi, 42 x Infantry Battalions including 16 x Light Infantry Battlions under Regional Operation Command (ROC) HQ at Loikaw)
  • Trinagle Region Command (Eastern Shan State, HQ at Kengtung, 28 x Infantry Battlions)
  • Central Command (Mandalay Division, HQ at Mandalay, 17 x Infantry Battlions)
  • South Eastern Command (Mon and Karen States, HQ at Moulmein, 36 x Infantry Battlions)
  • Coastal Region Command (Tenasserim Division, HQ at Mergui, 43 x Infantry Battlions including battlions under 2 MOC based at Tavoy)
  • Southern Command (Pegu and Magwe Divisions, HQ at Toungoo, 27 x Infantry Battlions)
  • South Western Command (Irrawaddy Division, HQ at Bassein, 11 x Infantry Battlions)
  • Western Command (Arakan and Chin States, HQ at Akyab, 33 x Infantry Battlions)
  • North Western Command (Sagaing Division, HQ at Monywa, 25 x Infantry Battlions)
  • Rangoon Command (Rangoon Division, HQ at Mingaladon, 12 x Infantry Battlions)
  • Naypyidaw Command (HQ at Naypyidaw, formed in 2006 - ? x Infantry Battlions)

Regional Operations Commands (ROC)

4 x ROC (HQs at Loikaw, Bhamo, Kalay and Mongsat)

Military Operations Commands (MOC)

20 x MOC

Military Operations Commands (MOC) are similar to infantry divisions in Western Armies. They consists of 10 regular infantry battlions (Chay Hlyin Tatyin), HQ and organic support units including field artillery batteries.

Light Infantry Divisions (LID)

10 x LID (Chay Myan Tat Ma)

LIDs are mobile strike forces of Myanmar Army and are considered to be strategic asset of Myanmar Army. These LIDs are directly answerable to Chief of Staff (Army).

Each LID consists of 10 Light Infantry Battlions specially trained in counter-insurgency and jungle warefare for "search and destroy" operations against ethnic insurgents and narcotics-based armies. These battlions are organised under 3 Tactical Operations Commands (Byu Harr), similar to western style bridgades. These Tactical Operation Commands are commanded by Brigader General(Du Bo Mhu Choke) or Colonel (Bo Mhu Gyi) Level officer.

• • 77 LID (HQ at Pegu)
  • 88 LID (HQ at Magwe)
  • 99 LID (HQ at Meiktila)
  • 66 LID (HQ at Prome)
  • 55 LID (HQ at Aungban)
  • 44 LID (HQ at Thaton)
  • 33 LID (HQ at Sagaing)
  • 22 LID (HQ at Pa-an)
  • 11 LID (HQ at Htaukkyan)
  • 101 LID (HQ at Pakokku)

Special Forces

1 x Airborne Infantry Divison (citation, confirmation needed!)

Armored Divisions

2 x Armored Divisions

Each with 5 Tank Battlions and 5 Armored Infantry Battlions (IFVs/APCs).

Field Artillery Divisions

3 x Field Artillery Divisions

Consists of 43 Field Artillery Battlions.

Anti-Aircraft Artillery Divisions (AAA/AD)

2 x AAA/AD Division

Each with 3 x Medium Range SAM Battlions, 3 x Short Range SAM Battlions, 3 x AAA/AD Battlion

Military Affair Security (MAS)

40+ MAS Companies

Newly formed Military Affair Security Units replaces former Military Intelligence Units after the disbandment of Directorate of Defense Service Intelligence (DDSI)

Signal Battlions

20+ Signal Battlions

Field Engineer Battlions

15+ Field Engineer Battlions

Medical Battlions

16+ Medical Battlions

Equipment

Armor

Tanks

• 139 x T-72S MBTs (PRC/Ukraine/Russia)
• 280+ x Type 59D MBTs (PRC)
• 190+ x Type 69 II MBTs (PRC)
• unknown number of Type 80 MBTs (PRC)
• unknown number of Type 85 MBTs (PRC)
• unknown number of Type 55 MBTs (India)
• 150+ x Type 63 Light Tanks
• 22 x Comet Medium Tanks (UK - WWII vintage)

Infantry Fighting Vehicles/Armored Personnel Carriers

• 1000 x BTR-3U IFVs(To assemble in Burma. To complete by 2010)
• 250 x Type 85 APCs (PRC)
• 55 x Type 90 APCs (PRC)
• 140 x EE-9 Cascavel AFVs
• an unknown number of Panhard AML 90
• 80 x Universal T-16 Bren Gun Carriers (UK - WWII vintage)
• 40 x Humber APC (UK)
• 6 x Ferret SC (UK)
• 50 x Daimler SC (UK)
• 44 x local-built armoured vehicles
  • BAAC-83 APC
  • BAAC-84 SC
  • BAAC-85 SC
  • BAAC-86 SC
  • BAAC-87 APC
  • BAAC-87 Command and Control Carrier

Artillery

Self-Propelled and Towed Artillery

• 30 x NORA B52 self-propelled Artillery (Serbia)
• 16 x M-845P 155mm Howitzers (PRC)
• 100+ x KH-179 155mm Howitzers (PRC)
• 16 x Soltam 155mm Howitzers (Israel)
• unknown number of 140mm 5.5-inch medium guns (UK WWII vintage)
• 16 x Type 59 M-46 130mm Field Guns (DPRK)
• 72 x D-30M 122mm Howitzers
• 340+ x 105mm Howitzers (US M-101, Yugoslavia M-56 Howitzer, Indian 105-mm Light Guns)
• 50 x 88mm 25-Pounder Field Guns (UK WWII vintage)
• 80 x 75mm Field Guns
• 100 x M-48 B1 Mountain Guns (Yugoslavia)

Multiple Rocket Launchers (MLRS)

• unknown number of Type 63 MLRS (PRC)
• 42 x Type 90 122mm MLRS (PRC)
• unknown number of BM-21 MLRS (Vietnam)
• 30 x Type 63 107mm Towed MLRS (PRC)
• unknown number of locally made BA-84 81mm

Surface to air missiles and Anti-aircraft artillery

• 48 x TOR M1/ SA-15 SAMs (USSR)
• 24 x BUK-M1-2/ SA-17 SAMs (USSR)
• 24 x Tunguska SA-19 Gun/SAMs (USSR)
• 24 x SA-6 Gainful SAMs (USSR/PRC)
• 24 x Pechora-2M SAMs
• 48 x SA-2 Guideline SAMs
• 2 x BAe Dynamics Bloodhound Mk.II SAMs (UK/Singapore - illegal transfer)
• 400 x SA-18 Grouse MANPADS
• 200 x CPMIEC HN5 MANPADS (PRC)
• unknown number of Stinger FIM-92 MANPADS (US/Pakistan - illegal transfer from arms shippment from US for Mujahideen)
• 200 x 14.5mm KPV heavy machine guns in quadruple AAA mounts (PRC)
• 200 x 37mm/40mm/57mm Anti-Aircraft Guns (various models)

Heavy Mortars

• 400+ x 120mm Mortars
  • Ka Pa Sa BA-97 (local made)
  • Hotchkiss-Brandt MO-120-60 (France)
  • MA-6
  • Soltam K-6 (Israel)
  • Tampella Mk.2 (Finland)
  • Type 53 (PRC)
  • UBM-52 (Yugoslavia)
• 8 x 120mm Soltam M-65/Tampella M-65 (Israel/Finland)

Support Weapons

Light and Medium Mortars

• N/A x 2-inch Ordnance ML (UK,Burma)
• N/A x 3-inch Ordnance ML (UK,Burma)
• N/A x 60mm Ka Pa Sa BA-100 (Burma)
• N/A x 60mm Type-63 (PRC)
• N/A x 60mm M-19 (US)
• N/A x 81mm M-29 (US)
• N/A x 81mm Ka Pa Sa BA-90 (Burma)
• N/A x 82mm M-43 (Russia)
• N/A x 82mm Type-53 (PRC)
• N/A x 82mm Type-67 (PRC)
• N/A x 82mm Type-76 (PRC)

Rocket Launchers and Recoilless Guns

• N/A x 57mm M-18 (US)
• N/A x 57mm Type-36 (PRC)
• 200 x 75mm M-20 Rocket Launchers (US)
• N/A x 75mm Type-52 Rocket Launchers (PRC)
• N/A x 75mm Type-56 Rocket Launchers (PRC)
• N/A x 82mm Type-65 (PRC)
• N/A x 82mm Type-78 (PRC)
• 1800 x 84mm FFC Carl Gustaf M-2 (Sweden)
• N/A x 3.5in M-20 Rocket Launcher "Super Bazooka" (US WWII vintage/MAP)
• N/A x 106mm M-40A1 (US)
• N/A x 106mm M-40A2 (US)

Heavy Machine Guns and Cannons

• N/A x 0.50cal Browning M-2HB HMG (Belgium/US)
• N/A x 12.7mm Type-85 HMG (PRC)
• N/A x 20mm Hispano Suiza Mk.5 Automatic Cannon (UK)

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)

• 0.30in Browning M1919A4 MMG (US)
• 0.303in Bren LMG (UK)
• 7.62mm Bren L4A4 LMG (UK)
• 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-64 LMG (Local made version of Heckler & Koch G4)
• 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa MA-3 LMG (Burma)
• 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa MG-3 GMPG (Burma)
• 7.62mm FN MAG GPMG (Belgium)

Individual Weapons

Assault Rifles

• 5.56mm MA-1 Assault Rifle (Local made version of Israeli GALIL Assault Rifle)
• 5.56mm MA-2 Assault Rifle (Local made version of Israeli GALIL Assault Rifle - Carbine version)
• 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-63 Assault Rifle (Produced under license from H&K - HK G3A2)
• 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-72 Assault Rifle (Produced under license from H&K - HK G3K)
• 7.62mm Ka Pa Sa BA-100 Assault Rifle (Produced under license from H&K - HK G3A3ZF Sniper Version)
• 7.62mm AK-47 (Russia)
• 7.62mm Type-56 (PRC)
• 0.30in Winchester M-1 Carbine (US)
• 0.30in Winchester M-2 Carbine (US)

Submachine Guns

• 9mm Ka Pa Sa BA-94 (Produced under license from IMI Israel - Uzi)
• 9mm Sterling L2-A3 (Uk)
• 9mm Ka Pa Sa BA-52 "Ne Win Sten" (Produced under license from TZ Italy - TZ-45)

Grenade Launchers

• 40mm RPG-2 Type-56 ATGL, B40 (Russia/PRC)
• 40mm RPG-7 Type-69 ATGL (Russia/PRC)
• 40mm M-79 (US)
• 40mm M-203 (US)

Air Force (Tatmadaw Lei)

Personnel: 15,000 all ranks

Administrative and Support Units

• Air Force HQ, Ministry of Defence
• Maintenance Air Base (Mingaladon)
• Ground Training Base (Meiktila)
• Fly Training Base (Shante)

Air Bases

• Hmawbi Air Base HQ (former 501 Air Base)
• Mingaladon Air Base HQ (former 502 Air Base)
• Myitkyinar Air Base HQ (former 503 Air Base)
• Namsang Air Base HQ
• Taungoo Air Base HQ

Equipment

Fighters/Interceptors

• 52 x Chengdu F-7s equipped with French R550 Magic Air-to-air missiles).
• 12 x MiG-29s (Russia) (** Additional Mig-29s ordered in 2006**)

Fighters/Ground Attack

• 16 x Shenyang J-6s (PRC)
• 48 x Nanchang A-5s (PRC)

Counterinsurgency

• 12 x G-4 Super Galebs (Yugoslavia)
• 7 x Pilatus PC-9(Switzerland)
• 14 x Pilatus PC-7(Switzerland)

Transport

• 6 x SAC Y-8D2/Antanov An-12 (PRC)
• 2 x Fokker F-27 (Netherlands)
• 3 x Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B (US)
• 3 x Beechcraft D-18S (US)

Training

• 2 x Mig-29UB (Russia) - more on order
• 10 x GAIC FT-7 (PRC)
• 4 x Shanyang FT-6 (PRC)
• 24 x Hongdu K-8s
• 5 x Pilatus PC-7 (Switzerland)
• 2 x Britten-Norman Islander (Transferred by India in August 2006)

Liaison Aircraft

• 4 x Cessna 180 (US)
• 1 x Cessna 550 (US)
• 5 x Pilatus PC-6A/B Turbo Porter

Helicopters

• 11 x Mi-17s (Russia)
• 22 x UH-1 Iroquois (US)
• 20 x W-3 Sokół (Poland)
• 20 x Mi-2s (Poland)
• ?? x HAL Dhruv (India - transferred in late 2006)
• 6 x Bell 206 Jet Ranger (US)
• 6 x SA-316B Alouette III (France)

Navy (Tatmadaw Yay)

Personnel: 16,000 (Including 1 x Naval Infantry Battlion)

Administrative and Support Units

• Naval HQ, Ministry of Defence
• Strategic Naval Command (HQ Rangoon)
• Naval Training Command (Seikkyi)
• Naval Shipyard Headquarters (Yangon)
• Central Naval Hydrographic Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Diving and Salvage Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Engineering Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Stores Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Communications Depot (Yangon)
• Central Naval Armaments Deport (Seikkyi)

Naval Regional Commands and Bases

• Irrawaddy Regional Command (HQ Yangon)
  • Thanhklyet Soon Naval Base
  • Bassein Naval Base
  • Coco Island Base (Naval Radar Unit)

• Danyawaddy Regional Command (HQ Sittwe)
  • Kyaukpyu Naval Base
  • Sandoway Naval Base

• Panmawaddy Regional Command (HQ Hainggyi Island)
• Mawyawaddy Regional Command (HQ Moulmein)
• Tanintharyi Regional Command (HQ Mergui)
  • Zadetkyi Island Naval Base
  • Mali(Tavoy) Naval Base
  • Palai Island Naval Base
  • Kadan Naval Base
  • Sakanthit Naval Base
  • Lambi Naval Base
  • Pearl Island Naval Base
  • Zadetkale Naval Base (Radar Unit)

Ships

• 1 x 108 metre frigate(equipped with 1 x 76 mm Oto Melara Super Rapid,4 x 30 mm AK 230,4x C 802,RBUs and HQ 7)
• 3 x 77 metre corvette(771,772,773)(equipped with 1 x 76 mm Oto Melara Super Rapid,2 x 30 mm AK 230,4x C 802)
• 6 x Houxin Yan 037 1 G Class FAC(471,472,473,474,475,476)(equipped with 4 x C 802 SSM, 2 x 37 mm twin,2 x 14.5 mm twin)
• 2 x 45 metre Myanmar Class FAC(551,551)(equipped with 1 x 57 mm twin,2 x 25 mm twin,2 x 14.5 mm twin)
• 4 x 45 metre Myanmar Class FAC(553,554,555,556)(equipped with 1 x 37 mm twin,2 x 25 mm twin,2 x 14.5 mm twin)
• 4 x 45 metre Myanmar Class FAC(557,558,559,560)(equipped with 4 x C 802 SSM,2 x 30 mm twin,2 x 14.5 mm twin)
• 10 x submarine chaser Shanghai II(441,442,443,444,445,446,447,448,449,450)(equipped with 2 x 57 mm twin,2 x 25 mm twin,2 x 14.5 mm twin, RBUs)

Regional military commands

References

Acronyms

• DSA-Defence Services Academy
• OTS-Officers' Training School

1. Cite error: The named reference CIA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
2. Starck, Peter (2005-06-07). "World Military Spending Topped $1 Trillion in 2004". Reuters. Common Dreams NewsCenter. Retrieved 2006-07-19.
3. Working Papers - Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU
4. Andrew Selth: Power Without Glory
5. Cite error: The named reference multiple was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
6. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1812584,000500020010.htm

See also

• Aung San
• Burma National Army
• Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army
• Kachin Independent Army
• Shwe Mann
• Smith Dun
• United Wa State Army

External links

• Burma Library Archives
• Burma Campaign UK
• Irrawaddy Research Page

• Military of Myanmar