Myanmar Commissions Frigate, Hospital Ship

UMS Sin Phyu Shin (F 14), the Myanmar Navy's second guided-missile frigate with low observable radar characteristics, the frigate is fitted with two quad box launchers for Chinese C-802 anti-ship missiles (all photos : Myanmar Navy)

Myanmar commissions second frigate with reduced RCS, hospital ship

The Myanmar Navy commissioned several new vessels including UMS Sin Phyu Shin (F 14), its second guided-missile frigate with low observable radar characteristics, on 24 December 2015 - the service's 68th anniversary.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the commander-in-chief of the country's defence services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who also inspected ongoing offshore patrol vessel (OPV) and corvette projects as well as infrastructure projects at the Naval Dockyard in Thanlyin, according to a release from the senior general's office.The release also sheds new information on Myanmar's little-known frigate programme that commenced in 2005. The ships, Aung Zeya (F 11) and Kyan-Sit-Thar (F 12), were commissioned in 2010 and 2014, respectively, while construction of Sin Phyu Shin commenced in 2010.


Unlike first-of-class Aung Zeya , the second and third ships feature a stealthy superstructure with two masts and a helicopter hangar. The platform has a length of 106 m and a beam of about 13.5 m. Like Aung Zeya , it is likely that Sin Phyu Shin , is powered by two Chinese-assembled Pielstick 16 cylinder PA6 STC engines from Shaanxi Diesel Engine company.The frigate is equipped with an India-supplied RAWL-02 (license-built Thales LW-08) 2D air search radar on the mainmast, a Chinese Type 362 missile-targeting radar in a radome atop the foremast along with two fire control radars - most likely Chinese Type 47 series. An India-made HMS-X hull-mounted sonar system is also fitted to the frigates.

Weapons include one Oto Melara 76 mm gun in a stealthy gun mount and three Chinese NG-18 systems for close-in defence. A North Korean-origin box launcher for six man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) is also fitted on the foredeck along with two North Korean small calibre gun mounts on the bridge wings.