The Royal Thai Navy's ACDC Exhibited the FK-3 and Igla-S Mobile Air Defense Systems

31 Januari 2023

Air and Coastal Defence Command (ACDC), Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has displayed Chinese FK-3 medium-range surface-to-air missile system launcher platform and demonstrated Russian Dzhigit support launching unit (SLU) with two Igla-S Man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) short-range surface-to-air missile system during tactical live fire exercise for Fiscal Year 2023 on 23-25 January 2023 (all photos : Royal Thai Navy)

During the visit to Air and Coastal Defense Command (ACDC) at Sattahip Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province of the Commander of the Thai Navy and his group on 23 January 2023 and then tactical firearms training with real ammunition at the weapons shooting range Hat Yao Thung Prong, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, on 25 January 2023, has exhibited and demonstrated several new air defense systems.

These new air defense systems include the Chinese FK-3 mobile medium-range surface-to-air missile system and the two Igla-S mobile close-range anti-aircraft missile system on the Russian Dzhigit-style launcher. Thairung TR Transformer 4x4 family trucks who are engaged in training as a battalion unit of the 11th Air Defense Battalion (11th Air Defense Battalion), 12th Air Defense Battalion (12th Air Defense Battalion), 21st Air Defense Battalion (21st Air Defense Battalion), and 1st Air Defense Regiment.

Air defense system FK-3 self-propelled surface-to-air missiles are procured under the Mobile Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile Procurement Project Phase 1, costing 1,970,000,000 baht ($63,982,850) for the battalion. antiaircraft Department of Aircraft Combat, Royal Thai Navy, at least 1 system.

One FK-3 air defense system consists of one command vehicle, one radar base vehicle, and three Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicles, each with a payload of 4 vertical cylindrical guided missiles, and the system will have 12 guided missiles.

The project to procure 5 mobile close-range anti-aircraft guided missiles in the amount of 245,890,000 baht ($7,682,982.06) for the Royal Thai Air Force Command and Coastal Defense Command, was won by Datagate Thailand. It is an integrated Dzhigit launcher.

Equipped with a shoulder-to-air missile launcher, two Russian Igla-S are installed on the rear of the Thairung Transformer 4x4 family of trucks that are reinforced with protective armor and are equipped with a Snorkel tube for movement in the water which is installed in Thailand.

(AAG)