Narinjara News, April 30, 2025 

A regional military observer informed Narinjara News that the output of arms and ammunition in the junta's Weapons Manufacturing Factories situated on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, positioned between Magway and Bago Divisions, has declined. 

He stated that the decline in production is attributed to two primary factors. 

"The initial aspect is communication and transportation. Traveling between Weapons Manufacturing Factories is no longer as straightforward as it once was. The revolutionary groups have blocked several routes. The factories frequently manufacture the essential materials individually. These components are put together in a manufacturing facility. At present, moving the components between factories is challenging. Some arms manufacturing plants are only a short distance from being bombarded by the revolutionary troops," he stated.

The second point is that the troops in the Weapons Manufacturing Factories are engaged in combat and must constantly safeguard the factories, which prevents them from focusing on military equipment production. 

"Currently, the factories are also on the front lines, safeguarding the factories throughout the day. They patrol and manage the safety. Thus, the manufacturing of military gear has decreased steadily. They are unable to work full-time in the production area as they used to," he stated. 

CDM Captain Zin Yaw also confirmed the decline in the production of small arms ammunition.

“When we say ammunition before small arms, we should say small arms ammunition. The decline in ammunition production is due to regional instability. The attacks by revolutionary forces have affected the production of factories, security, and territorial control, which is why production has decreased.”

In the Weapons Manufacturing Factories (Kapasa in Burmese) (14) located close to Rakhine Yoma to the west of Ngaphe town in Sidoktaya Township, Magway Division, numerous soldiers from the military equipment production units have been dispatched to the front lines, resulting in a halt to the factory’s operations, according to Salai Rochin, a representative of the Asho Chin Defense Forces (CDF – Asho), who spoke to the media. 

In several of the recent confrontations, it appears that older ammunition has been exhausted and ammunition manufactured in 2024 has been utilized. 

“This indicates that the ammunition produced prior to 2024 has been depleted. Consequently, the ammunition produced in 2024 has been utilized. We have observed ammunition manufactured in 2024 within the ammunition seized by the revolutionary troops," he stated. 

On the western banks of the Ayarwaddy River, numerous weapons manufacturing factories are present, including No. (5), (6), (16), (9), (14), (10), (12), (13), (2), and (20). 

The Irrawaddy additionally stated that following the capture of Nyaung Gyo by the Arakan Army and its allied forces, it seems likely that the AA and its allies will soon launch an attack on the western Bago region. 

Intense battles are said to be occurring in adjacent areas of The Rakhine Yoma Mountains, situated in Bago, Magway, and Ayeyarwady Divisions, as AA and allied forces initiate an assault to take control of the Monywa-Pathein road along the western shore of the Ayeyarwady River.