Armoured Vehicle Production Grows in Thailand

19 November 2019

First Win II MRAP 4x4 (photo : Sompong Nondhasa)

In the past five years, the armoured vehicle industry in Thailand has leapt forward due to increasing needs for vehicles in the Thai armed forces for a variety of missions.

Unrest in Thailand’s three southern provinces has boiled up since 2005, including ambushes and improvised explosive devices (IED) that continuously cause loss of life and casualties to officials. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) deployed more than 100 Reva MRAPs from South Africa but has lost many to IED attacks. Other armoured vehicles in the inventory such as V-150s, Type 85s and M113s have all been in use for more than 30 years so they are outdated and in need of replacement.

First Win AWAV (Armored Wheel Amphibious Vehicle) 4x4 (photo : Sompong Nondhasa)

Heavy industries with the most potential in Thailand are privately owned companies that have recognised these problems and started R&D using their own budgets.

An example is Chaiseri Metal & Rubber, which has been repairing wheeled and tracked military vehicles for decades. It initially built the First Win 4x4 multipurpose vehicle in 2012, with approval from the MoD. These protected vehicles allowed the RTA and Department of Special Investigation officials and equipment to enter operational areas with a V-shaped hull and armour plates that protect against 7.62mm ball ammunition.

First Win ATV (Armored Tacticle Vehicle) 4x4 (photo : Sompong Nondhasa)

The First Win was the first wheeled armoured vehicle built in Thailand. They cost approximately $500,000 each, which is cheap compared to other armoured vehicles in this class.

Deftech from Malaysia also bought a production licence to build First Wins in Malaysia. Today, Chaiseri is still evolving features on the First Win II, including the ability to mount an RWS and other versions for multi-mission purposes. The latest products are the amphibious First Win ATV 4x4 plus the very first tracked APC built in Thailand.

First Win ALV (Armored Light Vehicle) 4x4 (photo : Sompong Nondhasa)

One other fast-growing private company is Panus Assembly, which has built an MRAP 4x4 vehicle named the Phantom 380-X1. This vehicle is suited to the situation in southern Thailand, and Thai marines have been using them in their area of responsibility.

Panus also designed and built the AFV-420P 4x4 armoured vehicle. Weighing 17t and equipped with an SARP turret from Aselsan, its RWS mounts a 12.7mm machine gun. It passed a field testing and evaluation phase in August. The AFV-420P costs $834,000 (excluding the weapon system).

AFV-420P 4x4 armoured vehicle (photo : TAF)

However, the masterpiece from Panus is the latest R600 8x8 IFV. The R600A is an amphibious version for the marines. Each R600 costs $2 million.

These domestically built armoured vehicles are not only cost effective but they also increase availability, sustainability and maintainability levels for the military.

Panus R600 8x8 (photo : Sompong Nondhasa)

These two companies are also looking to market them internationally in addition to just supplying them to Thailand’s military.

(Shephard)