Royal Thai Army Received the Last of the Six Oplot MBT, with Two Recovery Vehicles

10 Agustus 2018

RTA T-84 Oplot MBT (photo : Wassana Nanuam)

The last 6 Ukrainian tanks delivered to the Army, now it is complete 49 cars.

All 8 tanks and recovery vehicles were delivered to Thailand on July 29, 2018, and then passed to the 2nd Infantry Division at Prachin Buri on July 30. We are waiting for the testing of weapons in September. And wait for the unit ready, this is the period when the unit is practicing.

The Board of the Army have checked to the Ukraine at the end of March - early April 2018 by 1st Army Chief Lieutenant General Kukiat Srinaka with the 1st Division to observe the test and check.

All 49 cars were delivered from five of the 10 units for the last seven years and five from December 9, 2015. The first five were delivered in 2013, due to the internal fighting in Ukraine, the production of tanks and delivery to Thailand delayed.

The Army has agreed to buy 49 Ukrainian T-84 Oplot tanks from Ukroboronprom for a budget of 7.2 billion dollars in 2011 since General Prayut Chan-Ocha has been the Army Commander. The contract is scheduled to be delivered by 2015, but the situation in Ukraine delayed sending 5 cars at the end of 2013 until the end of July 2018.

Resulting in the previous Army changed its mind to buy Oplot just one battalion ... and then turned to buy VT-4 tanks from China instead.

(Thai Defense News)