January 2019 Global Defense Security army news industryPOSTED ON WEDNESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2019 12:366
According to the Bangkok Post, the Royal Thai Army is seeking the cabinet's approval for the purchase of 14 additional VT4 main battle tanks from China, at a cost of more than 2.3 billion baht (USD 73 million), an army source said. It will be the third batch of VT-4 tanks to be bought from NORINCO. Each tank costs about 167 million baht (USD 5.26 million), said the source.
A source in the army's procurement committee said the army wants to purchase more VT4s (export designation of the MBT-3000) because of their satisfactory performance. The first 28 VT4 tanks were purchased in 2016 at a cost of 4.9 billion baht (USD 154,34 million), and the second batch of 11 tanks that came in 2017 were valued at 2 billion baht USD 63.02 million).
The army is also planning to procure 190 APFSDS-T shells, 60 HEAT-T shells and 150 HE-T shells, said the source.