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Military


Directorate of Defence Industries - Subsidiaries

Myanmar's National Defense Industry Directorate has more than 24 weapons factories employing about 25,000 people. Most of the factories are engaged in the production of systems for the Ground Forces and the maintenance of military equipment. The largest is an arms factory based in Sindh (in the west of the country). In addition, there are ammunition factories in Htonebo, Padaung and Nyaung Chidauk, and small arms factories in Naypyidaw, the central states and the Mandalay region.

By around 2010 there were between 22 and 25 Defence Industries (or DIs) either built or under construction in Burma… they are responsible for everything from manufacturing ammunition and small arms, to possible involvement in a nuclear and long range missile program. The factories have been provided by many countries. This allegedly includes Singapore, Ukraine, China, and most significantly North Korea. They are set up stocked and ready for manufacture. According to some sources, North Korea was providing Burma with factories for long range missile production under an MOU.

Wikipedia provides a list of subsidiaries that is not very informative:

  1. Weapons Factory
  2. Machine Gun Factory
  3. Tank Ammo Factory
  4. Heavy Artillery Ammo Factory
  5. Medium Artillery Ammo Factory
  6. Small Arms Ammo Factory
  7. Bombs & Grenades Factory
  8. Filling Factory
  9. Propellants Factory
  10. Explosives Factory
  11. Brass Factory
  12. Tungsten Alloy Factory
  13. Tungsten Carbide Factory

There is a lot of speculation about both where these factories are and what each one does. A source put together this list of DIs and similar establishments and what it is suspected each one produces from sources who have worked in these factories and have to remain anonymous.

  1. Ka-Pa-Sa [Defence Industry – DI] (1), Rangoon Inya lake Hotel road…600 soldiers. Assemble all MA1, MA2, MA3, MA4 for finishing. (According to the map provided by Myo Min Naing’s contact, it is situated in Mandalay division, east of Nyaunglun.)
  2. DI-2 is situated at Magwe division, Min Hla tsp, Malun village. 900 soldiers and 100,000 acres. 100 mile shooting range built by Singapore to test weapons bought from Singapore and to test the effectiveness of the weapons… It produces 105mm, 81mm, 60mm, MA5. (The one close to Heavy Industry-2? )
  3. DI-3 at Bago div, Panntaung tsp, Sinteh (Sinde) camp. 3000 acres/900 soldiers. Produces 120mm, 60mm, 150mm, 81mm shells. Current monthly rate of production 40,000 pieces of shell for each type of gun. (These are the most interesting areas as they have weird shapes on the map and many DIs are located there.)
  4. DI-4 is situated at Rangoon’s Kaba Aye Pagoda road. 100 acres and 400 soldiers. Repairing machineries of all DI factories, contacting foreign companies and buying materials from them to repair machines, producing models for production. (According to the map, it is situated in Mandalay division, north of Taungnyo)
  5. DI-5, Bago div, Panntaung township, Kamyaing village. 3000 acres/700 soldiers. Produces two types of gunpowder/explosives.
  6. DI-6, Bago div, Panntaung tsp, Nyaungchedauk village. 3000 acres/900+soldiers. Produces small arms shells and copper sheets. The steel factory was built by the Chinese experts.
  7. DI-7, Bago div, Pyay township, Kyaw Zwa fertilizers factory. 3000 acres/400+ soldiers. Production of water mines and armored vehicle repair and production.
  8. DI-8 Magwe div, Sinbaungweh tsp, 4000+ acres/300 soldiers, produces tank parts.
  9. DI-9 Bago div, Panntaung tsp, Kyauk Phoo vlg, 4000 soldiers. Produces bullets for MA1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. (According to the BBC Burmese (16 Jan 2010), it is located at Htonbo near Pyay)
  10. DI-10, situated at Magwe div, Min Hla tsp, Konekyee village, 6000+ acres/600 soldiers. Started to be built in 1993. To build/manufacture long-range missiles, surface to air missiles, air to air missiles. Experts for this factory are from South Korea, North Korea, China and Russia. Materials needed for the factory were bought from South Korea, China and Russia, and the installations and assembling were finished in 2003-2004.
  11. DI-11, Bago (?Rangoon? there is no Takkyi Bago division) div, Takkyi tsp, Leinmaw-chan village, 5000+ acres/1000 soldiers. The factory was started to be built in early 1993 with machines bought from South Korea’s Daewoo company, and the installation and assembling were finished in 1995-96 and currently carrying out production. Manufacturing complete parts for M1, 2, 3, 4 and other small arms. The most reliable factory for small arms of the SPDC.
  12. DI-12, Magwe div, Thayet tsp, 3 miles south of Sakhangyi village and Padaukpin village. It was formed in 1996… but only 400 people now… Produces 120mm, 60mm, 105mm and 81mm shells. 16,000+ acres with two sections. Sec 1 produces shell frames and propellers with the help for Daewoo. Sec-2 produces ignition gun powder and blasting explosives of the shells by buying machines from Czechoslovakia and installed with the help of experts from that country…The factory use modern electronic control equipments and can manufacture many more times than DI-3
  13. DI-13, Magwe div, Sinbaungweh tsp, Letpan village. 8000+ acres/400 soliders. Produces water mines and parts for artillery. Has links with DI-2
  14. DI-14, Magwe div, Sidotara, Nga Peh, 10,000+ acres/400 soliders. Has link with DI-9 on production and intend to produce bullets for small arms. Due to financial difficulties still not production, only planning.
  15. DI-15, Magwe div, Taungdwingyi tsp, near Myothit. 10,000 acres/400 soldiers. (I could only identify DI-17 according to the map. I found a suspected site in SE taungdwinggyi –)
  16. DI-16 situates side by side with DI-6. 10,000+ acres /700 soldiers, making gunpowder.
  17. DI-17 Magwe div, Aunglan tsp, Da-Va-La Shwepanntaw village. 20,000 acres. Not built/no production. (But according to map it is DI-15)
  18. DI-18 & 19, locations still being searched
  19. DI-20, Magwe div, Sidotara, 100,000 acres are being cleared. To produce nuclear weapons… 400 soldiers, engineers, officers trained in Pyin U Lwin and Russia…
  20. Defence material maintenance corps (Ka-Hta-Pa), situated in Rangoon Inya Lake Hotel road, opposite Inya Lake Hotel. 50 acres/200 soldiers
  21. Defence material maintenance school, located at Bago division, Pantaung (pronounced Padaung) township, Pyingyi village. 700 acres/400 soldiers

Various websites refer to “Ka Pa Sa (4)” or “Kapasa mall” at about #30 Parami Road, Chawtwingone Point Mayangone Township, Yangon. RIT alum lists Number (4) Industry at Htone Bo.



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