Burma has positioned a new air defense missile battalion close to the Thailand-Burma border, according to sources at the Coastal Regional Military Command in Mergui, also known as Myeik, in southern Burma.

“A new air defense battalion has been stationed in Aung Thar Warya Village in Palaw Township, Tenasserim Division,” said the source.

The new battalion is under the command of No.2 Air Defense Operation Command in Mergui, which was established in 2002 to control the air defense system along the southern Thai-Burma border.

Tunguska-M1 Air Defense Systems.

The Tunguska truck carries self-propelled, anti-aircraft gun and surface-to-air missile systems.

Normally, Burmese air defense battalions are also equipped with 57 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft auto-cannons, 37 mm anti-aircraft guns and Russia-made IGLA, a portable anti-aircraft missile (SAM).

Besides deploying new air defense battalions in the southern region, the military recently built a new radar air defense warning station in Palaw Township.

“The War Office was ordered to find the highest hill among the Tenasserim mountain range in Palaw Township for the a radar station,” said a military source.

The radar station will monitor Thailand’s air space. Burma air defense warning battalions use the GALAXY early warning radar system including 1L radar, 117 radar, P 37 radar and other P series radar systems.

The Tatmadaw, Burma's military, has sent junior officers in air defense battalions to Russia to be trained in portable, air defense missile systems.