03 Februari 2026
RTMC received domestic modernized AAVP7A1, D-Tiger 4x4 and Long Term Evolution (LTE) High-speed personal network system from Defense Technology Institute (DTI) (photos: RTMC)
The Marine Division, Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC), Royal Thai Navy (RTN), received domestically produced equipment developed through research and development from the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), an agency under the Thai Ministry of Defence. Comprising the AAVP7A1 amphibious vehicle, the D-Tiger 4x4 multi-purpose wheeled armored vehicle, and the Long Term Evolution (LTE) personal network system, the handover ceremony took place at the Royal Thai Marine Corps Headquarters, Krom Luang Chumphon Camp, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province on January 29, 2026. No further details are available at the time of writing this article.

It is understood that the AAVP7A1 amphibious assault vehicle recently delivered to the Royal Thai Marine Corps is a new, domestically modernized prototype under Thailand's DTI's Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) development, improvement, and maintenance project. Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd. of Thailand won the bid for this project. It will be deployed for official use at the Marine Assault Amphibian Vehicle Battalion (MSVA), alongside the existing 12 AAV7A1 amphibious vehicles, at least 3 of which have already been modernized to AAV7A1 RAM/RS by Chaiseri Thailand.
The D-Tiger 4x4 multi-purpose wheeled armored vehicle is based on the First Win MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle, also a product of the Thai company Chaiseri, manufactured under the name of Thai Defense Industry Co., Ltd. (TDI).
TDI Thailand is a joint venture between the Defence Technology Institute (DTI) of Thailand and Chaiseri, a Thai company, to facilitate the export of Thai private sector weapons and military equipment to foreign countries through government-to-government agreements.
The D-Tiger 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle is equipped with a Guardian 1.5 remote weapon station (RWS) from the Spanish company Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EM&E), featuring a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, similar to the AWAV 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier of the Royal Thai Marine Corps, manufactured by Chaiseri Thailand.
It is expected to be deployed to the Marine Tank Battalion, alongside the six First Win II 4x4 wheeled armored vehicles previously procured from Chaiseri Thailand. There is no further information available regarding the high-speed LTE personal network system. This handover ceremony marks the Royal Thai Marine Corps' continued support of Thailand's defense industry.
(AAG)