Posted on 05/20/2016 11:30:09 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Thailand’s military has inked an agreement with China to purchase tanks from the Asian giant, officials said earlier this week.
Thai officials have confirmed that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has formally signed a pact to buy the MBT-3000 main battle tank produced by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). Deliveries are expected to begin before the end of the year and continue within a two-year timespan.
If the deal is realized, it would make Thailand the first known export customer of the MBT-3000, also referred to as the V-4.
Specifics on the agreement, including the number of tanks to be purchased and the price, are yet to be publicly disclosed. IHS Jane’s cited Thai military officials as saying that the contract features an initial 28 units and is valued at around $150 million, though the RTA could procure additional tanks to meet its requirement for up to 150 MBTs. Meanwhile, Chinese state media cited Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon as saying that Thailand had planned to buy as many as 100 new tanks. Prawit is also the country’s defense minister
Commenting on the decision to purchase tanks from China, Thailand’s army chief Teerachai Nakwanich said he had full confidence in the high quality and performance of Chinese hardware.
“I have confidence in the performance since I personally went to see them,” Teerachai said Wednesday according to the Thai newspaper The Nation.
Earlier, Thailand had said that it would consider buying Russian T-90A main battle tanks. But Prawit and Teerachai both confirmed this week that the Southeast Asian state had decided on Chinese MBT-3000s instead.
(Excerpt) Read more at thediplomat.com ...
The Thai army used to be famous for having more Generals than tanks. Will this upset the balance?
Ingenious way to enable the Chinese to base their tanks in Thailand.
mai mee prayot
Took me a minute to read that. Wish they put spaces between the words. My Thai reading and writing never was too good.
Back in the highway planning stage, it was pointed out to the powers that be.
A heavy military equipment capable highway operates both ways.
The PTB counted on us providing timely intel if the commies were planming such a use of our highway. It actually was the correct decision. We were that good.
ASA LIVES, CEWI SUCKS!
are you talking about the Tanohn Mitrapap ? Friendship Highway
yes sir
I have driven up and down it with my own hand on the wheel many times.almost died on it at least once
I have driven it too.
One of my Army sargents, who was also a good friend did die on it, back in late 69. He was driving an Army 2 1/2 ton truck, going from Udonthani back to Bkk. Apparently fell asleep at the wheel and went off the road. His passenger was banged up, but lived.
He was an old timer when I arrived in 66, already having been in Thailand for 8 years. Spoke Thai very well. Swore he’d never go back to the U.S. He was wrong, he went home, but in a box.
they have these hills that the highway has to find its way up through from Saraburi to the Korat Plateau .At one point a straight away there is a truck passing lane going up hills.when you reach that point you were certainly behind a bunch of trucks. In my case I was driving a little sedan. Hitting the passing lane the slower trucks pull over to the right side of the lane and other trucks start passing the slower trucks.I found myself passing a truck and then on my left I looked and a truck was passing me going up on the downhill bound lane.Up a head suddenly a phalanx of trucks appeared heading downhill and they started using the uphill passing lane as a downhill passing lane heading right towards all the traffic going up the passing lane. Including me in my little car. I quickly decided to get all the way over on the right shoulder and let the press of trucks sort things out among themselves. but then joining the melee came a downhill bound bus and it shows to try and pass the upcoming traffic on the far right shoulder completely off the road where I had pulled over onto. the only way I avoided getting crushed by the bus was to pull off almost to the edge of the jungle as far as I could from the highway. This all happened in about 30 seconds. Amazingly all the Thai drivers did sort things out and there were no massive head on collisions. It took me about a half an hour to recover my composure
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