REGIME FORMS MISSILE FORCE

The Burmese military junta has formed a strategic missile force that works with North Korean suppliers and reports directly to Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye, the commander-in-chief of the army, according to military sources who leaked the classified information to The Irrawaddy.

The Directorate of Missile, formed in September 2009 to work alongside the Artillery Force and the Air Defense Force, comprises one of Naypyidaw’s major defense initiatives to strategically prepare for modern warfare and protect against external threats to the country's long coastline, strategic defense industries, command centers and air force and naval bases.
Burma’s missile force is armed with two types of weapons: surface-to-surface missiles, including short and medium range ballistic missiles such as the Scud-type Hwasong-6 imported from North Korea, and 122-mm and 240-mm multiple rocket launch systems imported from China and North Korea.

Known in the Burmese language as Ka Ka Dom, the Directorate of Missile is currently headed by Maj-Gen Myint Soe, who is reportedly close to Maung Aye.

There are 10 missile operations commands under the Directorate of Missile: Kyaukse in the Naypyidaw Regional command; Hmawbi in the Rangoon regional command; Bilin and Moulmein in the Southeast Regional Command; Dawei and Myeik in the Coastal Regional Command; Kengtung in the Triangle Regional Command; Loikaw in the Eastern Regional Command; and Sittwe in the Western Regional Command.

Under the missile operation commands, mobile battalions are deployed in locations such as Mong-Hnyin in Kachin State, Nawng-cho in northern Shan State and Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division, as well as other undisclosed places in the country.

Comprising another important wing of the Directorate of Missile are electronic battalions, which are deployed within missile operations commands and have the task of mapping and finding targets with electronic devices.

The idea for the strategic missile force came in 2007, when the National Defense College suggested forming a new directorate to better manage imported missiles and multiple rocket launchers.

The Directorate of Missile was formed as a separate entity from the Directorate of Artillery. Previously, Burma’s Artillery Force and Armor Force were under the same command, the Directorate of Artillery and Armor. However, in 2005, the junta separated the two directorates for better military mobilization

To protect Burma's 1,385-mile coastline, artillery and missile units are deployed on strategic off-coast islands.

Lt-Gen Myint Hlaing, the chief of the Directorate of Air Defense who commands eight air defense operations commands, and Maj-Gen Mya Win, the chief of the Directorate of Artillery who commands 10 artillery operations commands, are also reportedly close to Maung Aye.