The Myanmar Navy recently commissioned UMS Minye Kyaw Htin, a former People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 35B Ming-class diesel-electric attack submarine.
This is the second submarine to join the Navy fleet following the commissioning of former Indian Navy Kilo-class submarine INS Sindhuvir in 2020.
Also commissioned on 24 December, 74th Anniversary of the Myanmar Navy were Inlay-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), two 18m Riverine Fast Attack Crafts and four 20m Riverine Patrol Boats.
The Chinese Ming-class submarine was built in four variants over 25 years beginning in 1974. The 76m-long submarine has a displacement of 2,100 tons and maximum speed of about 18 knots. It can operate at depths of 300m. The Type 035B variant which just joined the Myanmar fleet is equipped to fire missiles from its torpedo tubes. Bangladesh bought two Type 035G vessels for $203 million, both of which were delivered in 2016.
