Myanmar Launches Largest Indigenous Frigate

MYANMAR launched its largest indigenously-built frigate, the UMS King Thalun on Dec 24, in a ceremony at the Thanlyin’s Naval Training Command Headquarters.

Attended by the State Administration Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing alongside other top brass, the ceremony coincided with the Myanmar Navy’s 77th anniversary. In his speech, he stated that the Navy had been upgraded to the Three-Dimensional Combat Ready Navy to fully protect the exclusive economic zone of the Myanmar Sea. He added that it was necessary to strive to shape the Navy as a regional navy and that vessel building must be done with momentum to produce full-power war vessels and cover adjacent sea areas.

The Navy’s service chief Admiral Htein Win briefed attendees on the Navy’s shipbuilding capability before officially naming and launching the 135-metre frigate. Named after the country’s revered King Thalun, known for his role in suppressing internal threats and defending Myanmar from external threats and paving the way for the nation’s progress.

With construction of the vessel beginning in March 2017, the completion of the vessel marks the largest ever constructed by the Navy, equipped with advanced mechanical, electrical systems, stealth technology and cutting-edge armaments. Powered by a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion, the ship displaces 3,500 tonnes and is capable of maximum speeds of 30 knots.

The King Thalun is the lead ship in the Thalun-class frigates, improved from previous ship designs with enhanced air defence capabilities, radars and operational range. It is armed with a 76mm naval gun , HQ-16 surface-to-air missiles (SAM), AK-630 close-in-weapon system (CIWS), Kh-35E anti-ship missiles (ASM), and RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers. Furthermore, its armaments include triple torpedo launchers for Shyena torpedoes, large depth charge launchers and 12.7mm heavy machine guns (HMG). The ship can also accommodate a Ka-28 helicopter along with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

After the King Thalun was launched, the ceremony continued with the commissioning of a pair of 63-metre submarine destroyers.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:GOOGLE)