Myanmar regime boosts domestic arms production

By Admin 18 Jul 2025

DMG Newsroom

18 July 2025, Sittwe

Myanmar's military regime, which engaged in battlefronts across the country, is reportedly experiencing a growing need for weapons and is ramping up domestic arms production.

The regime's weapons needs are mainly met by domestic, military-owned weapons factories, and they are struggling to keep up with the pace of weapons use.

"We are seeing a situation where the military regime is constantly using small arms and heavy weapons. Over time, this could lead to a situation where the military might used is not balanced with the military might produced," said Zin Yaw, a captain of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

The military regime is also using up weapons stored in warehouses to defend against foreign aggression and is pressuring weapons factory managers to produce more, he added.

Although the military regime does not officially release data on its weapons production, bullets produced by the regime's military-owned weapons factories in 2022 were found during the Pauktaw battle in Arakan State in November 2023. In the Ramree battle, DMG also found bullets manufactured by military-owned weapons factories in 2023.

Small arms and heavy weapons ammunition manufactured in March, April, and July 2025 have also been found in the ongoing fighting in Sagaing Region, and northern Shan, Kayin (Karen), and Kayah (Karenni) states.

"What we are seeing now is more ammunition and artillery shells being produced in 2025. The military regime is facing a difficult situation in which it is unable to produce enough military weapons," said an official from a local anti-regime force in Sagaing Region.

The junta relies heavily on domestic weapons factories for its operations, and the increasing production of weapons includes those manufactured in 2025, according to a report released by the Tamar Institute of Development on May 30.

The regime recruits nearly 5,000 young people for each military training batch and is believed to have conscripted around 70,000 men since activating the Conscription Law in February 2024.

Military analysts say the regime is being forced to increase its production of weapons due its forced conscription drive. There are 25 military-owned weapons factories in Myanmar's Magway, Bago, Naypyidaw, and Yangon regions, producing small arms and heavy weapons, as well as ammunition, bombs, and missiles.