Myanmar Rebels Seize Ukrainian-made MT-LBMSh Armored Vehicles from Regime Troops

In a recent incident in Myanmar, insurgents belonging to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) managed to capture Ukrainian-made MT-LBMSh tracked infantry fighting vehicles.

The incident was captured on video and widely shared on social media, shedding light on the rebels' acquisition of combat vehicles in the Chinshwehaw Military District. The video footage revealed two infantry fighting vehicles, one of which appeared to be severely damaged and beyond restoration.

Kharkiv Tractor Plant was manufacturing these combat vehicles based on the MT-LB chassis for Myanmar in 2017. The country had received its first Ukrainian-made MT-LBMSh much earlier, with confirmed deliveries of 10 such combat vehicles in 2007 and 16 more in 2009.

While unconfirmed reports suggest that a slightly larger number of MT-LBMS vehicles were sold to Myanmar by Ukraine, there is no official information available to substantiate this claim.

The MT-LBMSh is a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle built on the foundation of the MT-LB tracked tractor. It comes equipped with the KBA-105 Shkval remote weapon station, housing a ZTM-1 30mm automatic gun, a PKT 7.62mm machine gun, an AG-17 30mm grenade launcher, and a Barrier ATGM. This combat vehicle boasts enhanced armor protection due to mounted add-on armored screens, a feature exclusively provided for the export version destined for Myanmar.

Furthermore, the MT-LBMSh is powered by a new YMZ-238B engine with a capacity of 330 horsepower, allowing it to achieve a maximum road speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour. Its crew consists of three personnel, including a commander, gunner, and driver, while the squad compartment can accommodate up to seven soldiers. Notably, the commander relies on periscopes for battlefield observation as an effective observation instrument is not included.

The modernization of the MT-LBMSh has caused its combat weight to increase from 9.7 tons (as seen in the original MT-LB) to 12.5 tons, making it a formidable asset on the battlefield. The acquisition of these vehicles by MNDAA rebels in Myanmar raises questions about their potential impact on the ongoing conflict in the region and the security implications surrounding the presence of such weaponry in insurgent hands.