Myanmar Rebels Capture Ukrainian BTR-3U and MT-LBMSh
12 November, 2023 Captured by MNDAA rebels BTR-3U with KBA-105 Shkval RWS. Photo from social media Rebels from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) seized more Ukrainian-origin armored vehicles.
The photos of the captured equipment were released on social media. It was reportedly seized near the border with China in Shang State. On October 29, Militarnyi reported on the capture of two MT-LBMSh APCs of Ukrainian production, one of which was destroyed and the other in usable condition.
The MT-LBMSh APC with the KBA-105 Shkval RWS captured by the MNDAA rebels.
Photo from social media
The fresh photos showed a new, visually intact MT-LBMSh with a KBA-105 Shkval remote weapon station and a BTR-3U with the same set of weapons. MT-LBMSh is a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle based on the MT-LB tracked tractor, which received the KBA-105 Shkval RWS with a ZTM-1 30mm automatic gun, a PKT 7.62mm machine gun, an AG-17 30mm grenade launcher, and a Barrier ATGM. BTR-3U is a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier that is a deep modernization of the BTR-94?.
It can be equipped with a Deutz BF6M1015 or UTD-20 engine and an Allison MD3066 automatic transmission. In addition to weapons of Ukrainian origin, a MAM-01 122mm MLRS was captured, which visually has extensive damage and is not usable, and a 240mm MAM-02, whose degree of damage cannot be assessed. The Brazilian wheeled reconnaissance vehicle, the EE-9 Cascavel, and the D-30 122mm towed howitzer were also captured by the rebels.
Captured EE-9 Cascavel armored vehicle.
Photo from social media
Ukrainian armor in Myanmar
In 2017, Militarnyi reported that the Kharkiv Tractor Plant would manufacture armor on the MT-LB chassis for Myanmar. In fact, Myanmar received the first Ukrainian MT-LBMSh much earlier. It is known for certain that the country received 10 combat vehicles in 2007 and 16 in 2009.
BTR-3U of the Armed Forces of Myanmar at a checkpoint in Naypyidaw. Photo credits: Myanmar media
There is unconfirmed information that Ukraine sold a slightly larger number of MT-LBMSh to Myanmar, but there is no official information about this. It is known that Myanmar acquired about 10 BTR-3U in 2003.
These armored personnel carriers were seen in 2021 during the beginning of the coup in the country.