The leader of Myanmar’s military junta, Min Aung Hlaing, has inaugurated a major naval expansion project, including the construction of new anti-submarine vessels, in what analysts describe as a desperate attempt to project strength despite a series of humiliating defeats on the ground.
During a visit to the Thanlyin Naval Dockyard on 8 March 2026, the junta chief opened a 40,000-ton dry dock, which he claimed is a “world-class” facility and the largest of its kind in the country. He personally initiated the welding process for the hulls of new anti-submarine ships, arguing that a powerful navy is essential for protecting Myanmar’s position along strategic global trade routes.
However, political observers have been quick to dismiss the display as state propaganda. “Highlighting these expensive naval projects is a move to mask the reality of battlefield losses,” one analyst told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA). “By showcasing advanced weaponry, the regime is trying to boost the morale of troops who are witnessing their territorial control slip away”.
Military experts point out a significant disconnect between the junta’s investments and the nature of the current conflict. While the ability to build large frigates—such as the Tharlun Min, which recently completed a 3,500-mile sea trial—represents a technical achievement, such assets have little impact on the guerrilla and urban warfare currently defining the civil war. “Anti-submarine vessels simply increase the cost of war without providing a strategic breakthrough against domestic resistance forces,” one expert noted.
The timing of the multi-million dollar projects has also sparked public outrage. While the junta pours public funds into naval hardware, millions of civilians remain displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian aid due to ongoing conflict and inflation. Critics argue that the regime is ignoring the “cries from the ground” in favor of vanity projects aimed at maintaining its grip on power.
Min Aung Hlaing also suggested that the new dry dock could generate revenue by repairing commercial cargo ships. However, economic analysts believe this plan is unrealistic given the heavy international sanctions currently imposed on military-owned enterprises and the ongoing instability within the country.
As the military continues to struggle with political and administrative failures, the international community views this naval buildup as a potential spark for a regional arms race. For many in Myanmar, the primary concern remains that these sophisticated weapons, built with public money, will ultimately be turned against the population they are purportedly designed to protect.
