Indian arms manufacturing company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has continued selling military end-use material and technology to the illegal Myanmar military junta, according to Indian export records analysed by Justice For Myanmar.
Myanmar has inaugurated an FF-135-class frigate and named two anti-submarine warfare corvettes at the Thanlyin Naval Base in Yangon. China designed the FF-135-class frigate, but India provided ASW armaments.
The vessels are part of Naypyidaw’s effort to employ a medium-sized fleet that can match 21st-century threats in regional and adjacent seas as well as small platforms to defend the country’s exclusive economic zone.
The ceremony coincided with the Myanmar Navy’s 77th anniversary, and the service’s present and former Commanders-in-Chief attended.
“Myanmar’s coastline is 1,260 nautical miles (2,334 kilometers/1,450 miles) long and has over 1,400 islands, filled with valuable resources on and under the sea, and natural beauty of the sea,” the military said in its press release.
“In order to protect such a complete and valuable Myanmar territorial sea, the Tatmadaw (Navy) is being continuously expanded to become modern, strong, and capable.”
The FF-135l, named the UMS King Thalun, is the Myanmar Navy’s largest surface combatant developed to date.
Construction of the system began in 2017. The vessel’s interior incorporates the design of “modern international warships,” similar to the service’s existing Kyan Sittha-class frigates, which carry Russian and Chinese electronic warfare and weapon systems.
The King Thalun measures 135 meters (443 feet) long with a 15-meter (49-foot) beam. According to Naval News, the platform is expected to have a 76-millimeter gun, anti-ship missiles, and air-defense vertical launching systems.
During operations, the frigate will cover theater frontlines, conduct patrol and surveillance missions, conduct anti-terrorism deployments, conduct search and rescue, and provide humanitarian support.
Meanwhile, the anti-submarine corvettes each measure 63 meters (207 feet) long and will be powered by a diesel and gas combination engine. The commissioning’s announcement did not disclose additional details of the two boats.
Indian exports to Myanmar
A Justice For Myanmar investigation of Indian export records has revealed over $50 million in new exports to the Myanmar military and its arms brokers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in the six months from November 2022 to April 2023.
The shipments comprised military end-use goods, technology, and technical documents for the Myanmar military.
Items included metallic sonar domes, transducers, and gaskets for use on frigates, warships, or submarines; directing gear systems; various items for radio transmission or radar equipment; and manpack radios for battlefield communications.
BEL, which maintains a branch office in Myanmar, transferred the equipment, knowing that the Myanmar military is the end user and that it is committing ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity.
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