The Navy of Myanmar had been conducting a joint naval exercise named Sea Shield-2022, the information team of the State Administration Council (SAC) reported on July 5.  

This year’s naval exercise was conducted as of 1 July with the participation of two submarines Minye Theinkhathu and Minye Kyaw Htin from the Tatmadaw (Navy) in the Myanmar seas off the coast of Rakhine State.

SAC Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by the Commanders-in-Chief (Navy and Air), high-ranking military officers and officials, inspected the naval drill on July 5, the information team said.

Speaking to the naval officers and soldiers who took part in the drill, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said naval exercises started as joint military drills involving naval and air forces in 2009. These exercises improved year by year. Moreover, the nature and characteristics of exercises were thoroughly performed year after year. They aim to enable military personnel to have familiarity with battlefields and have skills to utilize the power of weapons. Only when participants in the exercise have good morale and capabilities, will an exercise be successful. Although the naval exercises were conducted as naval and air force joint operations in the past, the Tatmadaw (Navy) has been upgraded to the three-dimensional combat-ready navy now. Last year’s exercise used only one attack submarine. This year’s exercise used two different types of submarines to have a great exercise experience.

He added that Myanmar possesses some 1,300 miles of coastal line with more than 144,000 square miles of water territory. Hence, the Navy alone cannot cover the vast water territory. At present, the Navy is being upgraded to become a three dimensional combat ready navy to fully protect the specific economic zone of Myanmar seas for the first phase.

To become a naval force with combat power, the Navy must have the readiness of war vessels, readiness of weapons and systems, and readiness of naval men like the way the Tatmadaw (Army) does.  Hence, it is not enough for operating capable warships in a three-dimensional operation arena but all need to always undergo training for combat readiness without forgetting the three readinesses.

The Sea Shield-2022 was successfully conducted with the participation of 20 warships including frigates and submarines as well as helicopters from the Tatmadaw (Air Force), the SAC information team reported.