Myanmar Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 36th
MPR SCORE: 772
MPR Index: 0.3318 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.6333 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: +0.849 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Myanmar ranks 36th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR). Known as the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military is one of the largest in Southeast Asia and plays a dominant role in the country’s internal and external affairs. Its force structure is built around counterinsurgency, territorial control, and regime preservation. While primarily focused on domestic operations, Myanmar has made significant strides in military modernization, particularly through arms deals with Russia and China, giving it a growing presence in regional air and maritime defense.
Strengths: Large Ground Force and Asymmetric Resilience
Myanmar’s military strength is defined by size, combat exposure, and defensive adaptation:
Extensive Ground Forces: The Tatmadaw maintains a large standing army relative to the region, with an estimated 300,000 personnel. These forces are deployed across multiple conflict zones and garrisons, maintaining strong control over border regions and ethnic territories.
Counterinsurgency Experience: Myanmar has fought a range of long-running internal conflicts against ethnic armed groups, giving its forces deep experience in jungle warfare, light infantry tactics, and territory denial across complex terrain.
Strategic Procurement from China and Russia: The military has enhanced its capabilities with modern equipment including Yak-130 fighter-trainers, Su-30 jets, Chinese patrol craft, armored vehicles, and surface-to-air missiles, improving both airspace control and coastal defense.
Military Self-Reliance and Central Control: The Tatmadaw remains autonomous from civilian institutions, giving it strategic continuity and freedom to allocate resources, prioritize defense spending, and suppress internal threats without political restraint.
Why Myanmar Is Still Ranked Just 36th
Despite its size and internal dominance, Myanmar faces major limitations in terms of technology, sustainability, and strategic flexibility.
1. Limited Technological Capability and Force Integration
Myanmar’s platforms are often imported as standalone systems with minimal integration. The military:
Operates outdated or lightly upgraded legacy platforms
Lacks effective radar networks, joint command infrastructure, and C4ISR systems
Faces challenges in modern logistics, electronic warfare, and advanced targeting
This severely limits Myanmar’s capacity for high-intensity, coordinated warfare against peer adversaries.
2. No Strategic Deterrent or Regional Projection Capability
Myanmar:
Possesses no nuclear weapons, long-range strike missiles, or strategic bombers
Does not have blue-water naval forces or regional deployment infrastructure
Cannot project force beyond its borders or sustain operations outside national territory
Its doctrine is entirely territorial and regime-focused, with no ability to shape outcomes in wider Southeast Asia.
3. Sanctions, Isolation, and Industrial Limitations
Due to international sanctions and its political isolation:
Myanmar is heavily dependent on Russia, China, and North Korea for military procurement
It lacks a robust domestic arms industry or global supply chain access
Maintenance, upgrades, and ammunition stockpiles are vulnerable to diplomatic shifts and external pressure
These constraints limit long-term sustainability and modernization, especially in a multi-front or prolonged conflict.
Conclusion
Myanmar’s military strength lies in its internal control, combat-tested ground forces, and foreign-supplied air and missile systems. The Tatmadaw is structured to preserve the state, suppress insurgency, and deter border threats—not to conduct expeditionary operations or confront major powers.
In the context of the MPR—where strategic autonomy, high-intensity combat capability, and warfighting resilience are weighted heavily—Myanmar ranks 36th due to its reliance on foreign suppliers, lack of integrated modern systems, and inability to operate beyond its borders.
Its power is real but limited: formidable in domestic conflict, but constrained in the broader theater of conventional warfare.
Military Strength and Force Projection:
Active Military Personnel: 406,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 100,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 80,000
Army Personnel: 350,000
Navy Personnel: 15,000
Air Force Personnel: 40,000
Ground Forces:
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 800+ (T-72, T-55, Type 69)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 1,500+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 1,000+
Air Force:
Combat Aircraft: 100+ (SIPRI 2023)
Helicopters: 120+
Transport Aircraft: 40+
Aircraft Breakdown:
MiG-29 Fighter Jets: 40
J-7 Fighter Jets: 30+
Su-30SME Fighter Jets: 6 (recent purchase)
Naval Forces:
Submarines: 1 (Kilo-class)
Frigates: 6
Corvettes: 5
Fast Attack Craft: 20+
Missile Capabilities:
Myanmar has limited missile capabilities but has received Chinese missile systems for defense.
Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs): HQ-12
Anti-Ship Missiles: C-802
Strategic Partnerships:
Myanmar maintains strong defense ties with Russia and China, acquiring most of its military hardware from these countries. Despite international sanctions, Myanmar's military remains a significant regional force.
Myanmar – Military History & Combat Experience
Myanmar’s military history is defined by a long tradition of internal warfare, colonial resistance, and a dominant post-independence military institution known as the Tatmadaw. The armed forces have not fought conventional state-on-state wars in the modern era but have been continuously engaged in domestic counterinsurgency, making the Tatmadaw one of the most combat-experienced internal security forces in Asia.
Post-Independence Civil Conflicts (1948–Present): Since gaining independence from Britain in 1948, Myanmar has faced near-continuous armed resistance from ethnic groups including the Karen National Union (KNU), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Shan State Army (SSA), and others. These conflicts have shaped a military doctrine centered on jungle warfare, territorial pacification, and prolonged internal deployment.
Military Coup and Political Rule (1962–2011): Following a 1962 coup, the Tatmadaw established a military government that ruled for nearly five decades. During this period, the armed forces expanded their role in politics, infrastructure, and economic management, while continuing to battle ethnic insurgencies and suppress domestic unrest. The period institutionalized civil-military fusion and consolidated the army's role as Myanmar's most powerful institution.
Crackdowns on Civil Unrest (1988 & 2007): The Tatmadaw brutally suppressed pro-democracy uprisings in 1988 and the Saffron Revolution in 2007, deploying troops and using lethal force against civilians. These events solidified the army’s reputation as a regime protection force and demonstrated its willingness to use overwhelming force for domestic control.
Operations Against the Rohingya (2016–2017): In response to attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the military launched large-scale operations in Rakhine State. These resulted in widespread human rights abuses and the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya Muslims. Though not a conventional war, the campaign involved joint-force operations and reflects the Tatmadaw’s asymmetric warfare tactics.
Post-2021 Coup and Civil War: Following the 2021 military coup, the Tatmadaw re-seized power, triggering widespread civil resistance and the formation of People’s Defense Forces (PDFs). Myanmar has since devolved into low-intensity civil war, with the army conducting airstrikes, raids, and counterinsurgency across multiple fronts against both ethnic armies and urban guerrilla groups.
Myanmar’s military history is dominated by internal warfare, political intervention, and repression campaigns, not traditional external conflict. The Tatmadaw’s doctrine is rooted in internal dominance, territorial fragmentation management, and the use of overwhelming force to maintain centralized control—at the cost of modernization, diplomacy, and external credibility.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~56.6 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~22.9 million (males and females aged 18–49)
Geographic Area: 676,578 km²
Land Boundaries: 6,522 km
Bordering Countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Thailand
Coastline: 1,930 km (Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea)
Climate: Tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy summers and dry winters; cooler in highlands
Terrain: Central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, coal, limestone, marble, precious stones
Proven Oil Reserves: ~139 million barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~0.7 trillion cubic meters
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$2.6 billion USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~3.8%
GDP (PPP): ~$350 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$6,200
External Debt: ~$13 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Increased post-2021 coup; prioritizing air power, counterinsurgency, and military regime protection
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Mandatory for males and females (law enacted in 2024; not yet universally enforced)
Primary Defense Focus: Regime preservation, internal counterinsurgency, ethnic rebel suppression, border defense
Military Industry Base: Limited domestic capability; reliant on Russian, Chinese, and North Korean support; domestic arms production expanding under military control
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Moderate; includes domestic surveillance and information warfare focused on dissident suppression
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state; suspected clandestine cooperation with North Korea in the past)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into Bureau of Special Operations regions and military commands under Tatmadaw (armed forces)
Missile Inventory Highlights: MANPADS, artillery rockets, surface-to-air missiles (Chinese and Russian origin), indigenous short-range rockets
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Recently activated draft system; reserve structure not fully formalized
Reservist Force Size: ~100,000–150,000 (includes militia auxiliaries and pro-junta groups)
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: Minimal; plans for satellite cooperation with Russia and China; no domestic launch capability
Military Satellite Inventory: None; relies on allied ISR and commercial imagery
Intelligence Infrastructure: Bureau of Special Investigation, Military Intelligence, and General Administration Department
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: China, Russia, and regional authoritarian governments; limited international transparency
Airports (Total): ~69 (civilian and military)
Major Military Airports: Naypyidaw, Meiktila, Magway, Hmawbi
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~25 vessels
Major Ports: Yangon, Thilawa, Sittwe
Naval Infrastructure: Riverine and coastal navy; includes Chinese-built frigates, corvettes, submarines (1 Kilo-class), and landing ships
Naval Replenishment Capability: Regional; sufficient for coastal patrol and river operations
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~5,100 km
Roadways: ~157,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~30,000 barrels per day
Energy Imports: Imports refined fuel; exports natural gas to China and Thailand
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Estimated ~10–15 million barrels (classified and controlled by military)
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Produces light arms, munitions, armored vehicles; relies heavily on imported components and foreign technology
Military Installations (Domestic): Dozens of bases across contested regions; garrisons in urban centers and ethnic conflict zones
Military Installations (Overseas): None officially; strategic relationships with North Korea, China, and Russia
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: No formal presence; Russian and Chinese military advisers observed
Defense Alliances: No formal alliances; bilateral military ties with Russia, China, North Korea, and India (limited)
Strategic Airlift Capability: Operates Y-8, An-32, and C-295 aircraft; limited heavy airlift capacity
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low; limited industrial base subject to sanctions and internal disruption
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Minimal; some reverse-engineering and foreign cooperation for missile and drone tech
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, Myanmar Railways, state-owned cement and steel plants, military-owned conglomerates (e.g., MEHL, MEC)
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Naypyidaw
Founding Date: January 4, 1948 (independence from the United Kingdom)
System of Government: Military dictatorship under the State Administration Council (as of 2021 coup)
