Myamnar’s military to rely on Russian weapons

MOSCOW, Apr 28, 2019, Myanmar Times. The Tatmadaw (military) will use more Russian weapons in the future, especially in its expansion and modernisation programme, according to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. “Weapons made in Russia are very advanced and are much more useful for the Tatmadaw,” he told Russian media, reported the Myanmar Times.

Myanmar agreed to buy six Sukhoi Su-30SM fighters from Russia last year.

The Su-30SM is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter jet designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat in any season, according to Russian media. Its cockpit accommodates two pilots in tandem. The aircraft had a price tag of over US$37 million in 2012.

Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing is visiting Moscow at the invitation of Russia’s defence minister and the Russia-Myanmar Military Technological Cooperation Committee.

During the visit, he took part in the discussion section of “Military Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region and Prospective Regional Security” at the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security.

He told the conference that the regional situation is worrisome in terms of security and stability.

“Attempts for military dominance by some Indo-Pacific countries create concerns among other countries in the region,” he said.