The modern Myanmar Navy operates a modest surface and undersea force with a general concentration on fast-attack Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). The service does invest in frigate and corvette types with the former numbering five warships and the latter consisting of just three entries. UMS Aung Zeya (F11) operates as the first, and only, Burmese-built guided-missile frigate. The milestone warship is the lead-ship and only ship of her class, constructed by the Myanmar Naval Dockyard beginning in 2008 and formally commissioned into service with the Myanmar Navy in 2010.
As of 2021, she remains in active service with the branch.
Modern guided-missile frigates are called upon to undertake a variety of roles on the high-seas, independently or as part of the main fighting fleet. This means that the vessel must be ready to counter any known threats - be they on the sea, under it, or in the air. UMS Aung Zeya handles this through a broad set of sensors, processing systems, and weapons consistent with global designs found elsewhere. Beyond this is a helicopter launching/recovery system and Blue Water capabilities for the ship - giving the Myanmar Navy a considerable asset to be used offensively or defensively as the situation calls.
Displacement of the design is an estimated 2,000 tons with a running length measuring 354 feet. Power is through a COmbined Diesel-And-Diesel (CODAD) arrangement involving 4 x SEMT Pielstick 16PA6 STC diesel engines developing 7,600 horsepower each. CODAD allows for a pair of diesel units to drive power to a single shaft by way of gearboxes and clutches - allowing one or both of the units to be in play at any one time leading to greater fuel efficiency through proper management. This gives UMS Aung Zeya a maximum headway speed of 30 knotsin ideal conditions and the vessel can range out to 3,305 nautical miles.
The ship showcases a profile silhouette consistent with 1990s warship design, resulting in many protrusions about the design. The forecastle seats a single turreted deck gun with additional attack systems seated aft and on a stepped section of the superstructure. The bridge section is tucked into a low profile superstructure which is sports an exposed lattice-style mast works just aft. Aft of this is midships where the low-profile enclosed smoke funnels are set. Over the stern section of the warship is the helicopter landing pad - the design lacking hangar facilities found on most modern guided-missile frigates.
Armament consists of a single Italian 76mm OTO-Melara "Super Rapid" turreted deck gun over the forecastle backed by 4 x Russian 30mm 6-barreled AK-630 Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWSs), 2 x 14.5 Gatling-style miniguns, and 2 x 12.7mm Browning Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs). Missile armament, at the heart of the ship's attack capabilities, are 8 x Kumsong-3 series anti-ship missiles and 6 x Russian SA-N-5 reusable Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launchers. Beyond this are 2 x 324mm triple torpedo tubes housing YU-7 anti-submarine/anti-ship torpedoes, 2 x Depth charge launchers, and 2 x RBU-1200 Anti-Submarine ROCket (ASROC) launchers housing a total of 36 rockets.
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