Myanmar commissions Kilo-class submarine from India, joins fleet exercises

The UMS Min Ye Thein Kha Thu during Exercise Bandoola on 15 October 2020. Photo c/o Tatmadaw Information Team.

The Myanmar Navy has commissioned a Project 877EKM Kilo-class diesel electrical submarine that was donated by India. This is Myanmar’s first submarine and is expected to boost the Myanmar Navy’s overall naval capability.

The submarine, now named the UMS Min Ye Thein Kha Thu, was formerly the Indian Navy submarine INS Sindhuvir (S58) that was first commissioned in 1987, but underwent extensive refit and modernization upgrade by Indian shipbuilder Hindustan Shipyard Ltd in Vasakhapatnam in 2019.

Myanmar Navy crew for the submarine underwent training at the Indian Navy’s submarine school INS Satavahana at Vizag, while India has been sending “mobile training teams” to Myanmar for the last couple of years.

The UMS Min Ye Thein Kha Thu  was immediately used for exercises with the Myanmar Navy as part of the “Bandoola” fleet exercises with Myanmar waters on 15 October 2020, as the submarine sailed for home.

Myanmar has been purchasing a variety of Indian-made weapon systems and hardware, and is one of India’s major defense export destination. Recently the Myanmar Navy acquired Indian-made torpedoes for its anti-submarine ships.

Observers  pointed out that India’s decision to donate a submarine to Myanmar was a move that matches China’s recent transfer of two Ming-class diesel electric submarines to Myanmar’s neighbour, Bangladesh back in 2016.`



[1] Times of India
[2] The Hindu