Military: Military branches: Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005), Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (May 2002), Military manpower - availability: males age 18-49: 11,254,374, females age 18-49: 11,303,100 (2005 est.), Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 18-49: 6,512,923, females age 18-49: 6,789,720 (2005 est.), Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 440,914, females: 427,382 (2005 est.), Military expenditures - dollar figure: $39 million (FY97), Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY97)
Personnel: (as of November 1, 1998) Since 1988, the Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) has dramatically increased in size. Estimates vary, but the number of Burmese men and women in uniform appears to have increased from around 186,000 in 1988, to between 350,000 and 400,000 now. Senior Burmese officials have stated that the regime's ultimate goal is a well-equipped military machine of about 500,000 by the turn of the century.
Equipment: (as of November 1, 1998) Over the past 10 years, the SLORC and SPDC have purchased a wide range of new and more modern weapon systems and military equipment for the Tatmadaw. All three services have benefited from this program.
The Burmese Army, for example, has reportedly taken delivery of around 80 Type 69 main battle tanks, more than 100 Type 63 light amphibious tanks, and 250 or more Type 85 armoured personnel carriers. It has also acquired new field and anti-aircraft artillery (including multiple rocket launchers and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles), transport and construction vehicles, communications equipment, infantry weapons and ammunition. Most of these arms have come from China, and it is possible that more are still to be delivered.
The Burma Air Force has acquired more than 140 new combat aircraft, including at least three squadrons of F-7 fighter-interceptors, two squadrons of A-5 fighter-ground attack aircraft, one squadron of G-4 counter-insurgency aircraft, about one squadron of dual-seat jet trainers and at least one squadron of Y-8 turbo-prop transport aircraft. It has also taken delivery of about 50 transport and attack helicopters. There are reliable reports that the air force is actively pursuing orders of additional fighter-interceptors, assault helicopters, transports and training aircraft, mainly from China and Russia.
Since 1988 the Burmese Navy has taken delivery of nearly 30 naval vessels. This includes at least 16 Hainan class coastal patrol boats and four Houxin guided missile fast attack craft from China, and three PB-90 inshore patrol boats from Yugoslavia. It has also commissioned a number of smaller motor gunboats from local shipyards. More naval vessels are reportedly on order, including two or three Jianghu frigates, a small number of ocean minesweepers and possibly additional patrol boats, all from China. (More detailed military information can be found at
http://www.burmafund.org/Pathfinders...y/Military.htm)
Sources:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/bm.html
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...aps/bm-map.gif
http://www.burmafund.org/Pathfinders.../Preparing.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107808.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/freeburma/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma