Myanmar Army

The Myanmar Army, known as Tatmadaw Kyi, is headquartered in Naypyidaw and functions as the ground warfare branch of the armed forces of Myanmar. Command authority is exercised through the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army). Operational control across the country is divided into Regional Military Commands, each managing assigned infantry battalions, regional garrisons, and territorial defense assets. Operational oversight above the regional commands is provided by Bureaus of Special Operations. Mobile offensive capabilities are centered on Light Infantry Divisions and Military Operations Commands, which function as mobile reaction forces. Regional garrisons and command posts are located across state and regional capitals, including Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Lashio, Sittwe, and Monywa. Auxiliary ground forces include Border Guard Forces and local militia units integrated into regional command structures.

Primary operational duties center on counter-insurgency warfare, internal security, and territorial defense against non-state armed groups. Ground forces engage in combat operations across multiple fronts, including Shan, Kachin, Rakhine, Chin, Kayin, and Kayah states, alongside the Sagaing and Magway regions. Operations involve counter-guerrilla campaigns against ethnic armed organizations and militia forces. Tactical deployments rely on combined-arms operations integrating infantry units, armored vehicles, field artillery bombardment, and air support provided by military aviation assets.

Armored units operate main battle tanks including the T-72S, Type 59D, and Type 69-II, supplemented by WMA-301 and PTL-02 wheeled tank destroyers and Type 62 light tanks. Mechanized and motorized infantry formations are equipped with BMP-1, BMP-2, and Type 86 infantry fighting vehicles, along with wheeled and tracked armored personnel carriers such as the BTR-3U, WZ-551, Type 63, and EE-9 Cascavel. Artillery units field towed howitzers including 105mm, 122mm D-30, and 130mm M-46 systems, alongside self-propelled guns such as the 2S1 Gvozdika and Nora B-52. Rocket artillery capabilities include Type 81 and Type 90 multiple launch rocket systems. Ground-based air defense operations fall under the Myanmar Integrated Air Defence System, employing short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile systems such as the Pechora-2M, Kub, Tor-M1, and KS-1A, complemented by anti-aircraft artillery and man-portable air defense systems.

Domestic military manufacturing is managed by the state-owned Directorate of Defence Industries through a network of production plants known as KaPaSa factories. These facilities manufacture small arms, including the MA series of assault rifles and machine guns, mortar systems, landmines, artillery ammunition, and light armored vehicles. Modernization programs depend on foreign acquisitions, with armored platforms, air defense batteries, artillery, and component parts sourced from countries including China, Russia, and India.