Armée Thaïlandaise

[Madjid-wahran]

T-84 OPLOT M main battle tank (MBT) to the Royal Thai Army

[anzar]

Le T-84 Oplot est une bête

[Amine Ind]

Le gouvernement thaïlandais devrait approuver aujourd'hui l'acquisition d'une frégate (constructeur Daewoo).

Navy awaits cabinet nod for new frigate

The cabinet is on Tuesday expected to approve the navy's plan to procure a new frigate worth 14.6 billion baht from South Korea, a navy source said.

Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reportedly backs the plan and met navy commander Adm Surasak Rounroengrom last Friday to discuss it, the source said.

Under the proposal, the navy will contract Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering to build the frigate that will include stealth technology.

The frigate will be completed within 1,800 days after the signing of the contract, the source said.

The scheme is part of the navy's plan to procure two new frigates with a budget of 30 billion baht to replace HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok and HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai, which will be decommissioned in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

The cabinet approved in principle the navy's plan to buy the frigates late last year.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ew-frigate

[M1a2 Abrams]

Thai Army orders additional BTR-3 armoured vehicles from Ukraine
1 August 2013

UkrespectExport has been awarded a contract for delivery of additional 21 BTR-3E1 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Royal Thai Army.

The contract covers supply of locally assembled 15 BTR-3E1 and six BTR-3RK vehicles to the Thailand, Interfax-Ukraine reported citing a press service of the state-run company.

The company, however, did not provide any information regarding the contract value.

BTR-3E1 and BTR-3RK are upgraded and modified variants of the BTR-3E1 vehicles, which have been supplied to Thailand since September 2010.

To date, the Ukraine has reportedly supplied 233 BTR-3E1s to Thailand as part of a combined $270m contract awarded in 2006 and 2011.

The contract was executed by Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau and Zhytomyr mechanical repair plants, which are part of the Ukrainian state run manufacturer, Ukroboronprom.

Meanwhile, Ukroboronprom is currently exploring the potential of establishing a service centre in Thailand for the maintenance of Ukrainian-built military equipment, according to the news agency.Additionally, the company and the Thai Army are also discussing the possibility of joint assembly of BTR-3E1s in Thailand.

Based on the BTR-3U Guardian, BTR-3E1 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle designed to transport infantry troops, arms and supplies on the battlefield, simultaneously offering fire support from a turret mounted gun.

Fitted with BM-3 turret, new engine, 14.5mm main gun and one coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, the vehicle is also capable of performing reconnaissance, combat support and patrol missions.

BTR-3RK is a mobile anti-tank complex, featuring four launchers, anti-tang guided missiles (ATGM) barrier with ammunition stock rockets and a 12.7mm NSVT machine gun.

Shipped from Odesa, Ukraine by the middle of August 2013, the vehicles are scheduled to undergo evaluations prior to entering operational service with the army in the next month.



http://www.army-technology.com/news/new ... es-ukraine

[Henri K.]

La maquette des 2 frégates Thaïlandaises de 3 650t commandées à la Corée du Sud...

Henri K.

[Amine Ind]

Thailand Commissions Gripen-based Air Defense



Thailand Declares Its Gripen Integrated Air Defense System Commissioned

Just five and a half years after the signing ceremony in Stockholm February 2008, the undertaking by Sweden to provide the Royal Thai Air Force with 12 Gripen C/D aircraft, two SAAB 340 AEWs, radar and other systems, training and on-site support in a project called Peace Suvarnabhumi nears completion.

Despite the technological and logistic complexity, geographical distance and time difference, this project has run on time thanks to dedicated stakeholders and skilled staff in both countries. It is the first large defense project by Sweden in Asia.

The latest stamp of approval of this bilateral success came 11 September as the Royal Thai Air Force declared the Gripen Integrated Air Defense System commissioned as a fully operational part of the air force at its home base, Wing 7 in Surat Thani.

General Thanasak Patimaprakorn, Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, officiated over the ceremony along with RTAF Commander ACM Prajin Juntong and high ranking representatives from the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy, watched by Thai and Swedish guests.

http://rpdefense.over-blog.com/thailand ... ir-defense

[Youma]

Sweden Delivers Gripen Aircrafts To Thailand

Thursday, October 3, 2013 @ 02:52 PM

The Royal Thai Air Force takes delivery of the last six Gripen aircraft of the twelve ordered, at the ceremony on 11th September 2013. Sweden has previously delivered two Gripen Cs, four Gripen Ds, two Saab 340 AEWs (Airborne Early Warning) and one Saab 340 B (transport aircraft) to the Royal Thai Air Force. It was a proud Swedish delegation who delivered the system and who will be continuing to deliver a number of remaining products until 2015. FXM is responsible for the intergovernmental agreement between Sweden and Thailand regarding Thailand’s procurement of JAS 39 Gripen.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/9190/S ... k39v9K8CFY

[Youma]

SAAB To Supply Radar Sytem For Royal Thai Navy Frigate

Thursday, October 3, 2013 @ 02:42 PM

SAAB has signed a contract for development and integration of combat management and radar systems on a new frigate for the Royal Thai Navy.

Saab is the combat system integrator. In addition to the supply of its own systems, Saab is also responsible for procurement and integrations of third-party systems. The order amounts to MSEK 850.

Deliveries of ship equipment are scheduled to commence in 2016 and production will take place in Sweden, Denmark, Thailand and Australia.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/9188/S ... k3-6NK8CFY

[sadral]

Submarine base nears completion

Royal Thai Navy now 'needs' a fleet

The Royal Thai Navy plans to complete the construction of a submarine squadron headquarters and training centre in March next year, despite not having any submarines in its fleet.

Construction on the project began last year at Chon Buri's Sattahip Naval Base. The navy is eyeing the purchase of at least three submarines as part of its next 10-year procurement plan.

Submarine squadron chief Panu Punyavirocha said the new headquarters will cost 540 million baht. About 200 million baht of that is being spent on the Submarine Command Team Trainer, which will include a crew training stimulator.

Former navy chief Adm Kamthorn Pumhiran ordered the submarine squadron to be formed in April 2011 in anticipation of the government's green light to purchase four used German submarines worth 7 billion baht.

The plan's cost-effectiveness and transparency were questioned, however, and in the end the government failed to approve the procurement in time for the purchase deadline set by Germany.

"Submarines are of strategic importance to Thailand," Rear Adm Panu said Saturday.

He insisted submarines are unique compared to other armaments in terms of their strategic capabilities. If territorial disputes in the South China Sea escalate, sea transport in the Gulf of Thailand could be shut down with severe economic ramifications, Rear Adm Panu said.

"The navy must maintain its defensive capabilities to ensure the free movement of vessels in and out of the Gulf of Thailand under all circumstances. This is a matter of sovereignty and territorial integrity," the squadron chief said.

Submarines would also act as a deterrent to hostile parties seeking to encroach into Thailand's maritime territory, he said.

Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam have all commissioned submarine fleets and plan to procure more, Rear Adm Panu said, adding that there are now 19 submarines operating in neighbouring waters.

"Submarines are the invisible force of deterrence. They constitute a covert naval strength as they are nowhere to be seen but are present everywhere," he said.

Navy chief Narong Pipatanasai echoed the need for submarines.

"Although we don't have tens of billions of baht to spend on submarines, the navy must be prepared for when we will have them in the near future," the navy chief said, referring to the new training centre.

A Defence Ministry source said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who doubles as defence minister, had instructed Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakorn to devise a 10-year development plan for the armed forces.

The plan will sound out what armaments each branch of the military needs or wants.

Submarines will be included in the navy's 10-year plan, the source said.

Submarines will be important for maritime security when the Dawei deep sea port opens in Myanmar, with shipping lanes around the western coast expected to be bustling, the source added.

Rear Adm Panu said the navy needs at least three submarines, ranging in size from 500- to 3,000-tonne displacement. He dismissed concerns the Gulf of Thailand may be too shallow for submarines to operate.

He said several submarines from other countries had conducted drills in the Gulf.

"Those foreign navies probably know more than we do about the underwater terrain in the Gulf of Thailand," he said.

The navy has sent 18 officers for a 32-week submarine training course in Germany, and another 10 for a similar eight-week course in South Korea.

The navy plans to send more officers to attend exercises and seminars abroad to boost their knowledge of submarines, Rear Adm Panu said.

The new submarine training school will produce personnel with the skills to operate a future submarine fleet, he added.


The Thai government almost bought two of these used Type 206A diesel electric submarines from Germany in 2011, but cooler heads prevailed during the election year and the Navy passed on the deal.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... completion

[sadral]

La Thailande reçoit ses premiers chars lourds T-84 Oplot



Le pays de Siam a reçu à la mi-octobre une première livraison de cinq char de combat T-84 « Oplot » de l’agence étatique ukrainienne Ukroboronprom. Ces premières livraisons s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’un contrat de 230 millions de dollars, signé en mars 2011. Le contrat prévoit la livraison de 49 T-84 Oplot. Bangkok, qui a besoin de remplacer sa flotte vieillissante de M41 Walker Bulldogs (datant des années 50), pourrait se porter acquéreur au total pour 200 de ces blindés modernes.
Doté d’une motorisation moderne développant 1200 chevaux, le T-84 Oplot est une version du T-80 soviétique modernisée par l’ukrainien KMDB. Char de 50 tonnes, l’Oplot est équipé dʼune optronique moderne (infrarouge, jour/nuit…), comprenant notamment une caméra Catherine (de Thales, et oui!), un système de double blindage réactif, un système de contrôle digital, une protection NRBC (capacité d’évoluer dans un environnement contaminé nucléaire, radiologique, biologique ou chimique), un système de navigation par satellite ou encore un brouilleur infrarouge.
Côté armement, il est doté d’un canon de 125 mm à âme lisse, mis en œuvre par une tourelle stabilisée, ainsi que de deux mitrailleuses de 12.7 mm et 7.62 mm.

Fin septembre, les deux premiers T-84 Oplot ont subi avec succès les évaluations de mobilité et tirs, avant d’être livrés à la Thaïlande.

Bankgok va ainsi disposer de la flotte de chars lourds la plus moderne de la région, ils seront servis par diverses unités, à savoir à priori par : le 2ème bataillon de cavalerie (Garde Royale, basée à Fort Chakkraphongse, Prachinburi), le 4ème bataillon de cavalerie (Garde Royale à Kiakkai, Bangkok), le 8ème bataillon de cavalerie (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), et le 9ème bataillon (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke).
Outre les performances de l’Oplot, une des raisons pour ce choix ukrainien pourrait tenir au fait que le royaume du Siam a déjà acheté ukrainien, à savoir des transporteurs blindés BTR-3E1.
Le T-84 est en service en Ukraine depuis plus de 10 ans, Kiev pourrait d’ailleurs acquérir, dʼici à 2015, au moins une cinquantaine dʼOplot supplémentaires afin dʼéquiper deux des trois bataillons de la 17e brigade blindée de Dniepropetrovsk.

http://forcesoperations.com/2013/10/29/ ... -84-oplot/

[geronimo]

Enhancing the Royal Thai Army

http://defense-updat...&utm_campaign=0

In recent years the Ukraine is becoming a dominant player in the Thai defense market, particularly in all matters related to land combat. Since 2008 Ukrspetsexport, Ukraine’s state-run export agency has sealed major deals with the Royal Thai Army (RTA). The first deal was the sale of a family of armored vehicles including 96 BTR-3E1 8×8 armored vehicles configured into armored personnel carriers (APC), command vehicles, 81mm and 120 mortar carriers, AT missile carrier (employing the ‘Barrier’ missile system), recovery and ambulance variants.

Five years later Ukrspetsexport followed up with a further 21 vehicles requested by Thailand in August 2013.

[geronimo]

La Royal Thailand Air Force va acheter des Gripen !

Les budgets Thai étant actuellement modestes on parle
ici de 12 x Gripen étalés sur 10 ans ie,

6 x Gripen au cours des 5 prochaines années et 6 x Gripen
les 5 années suivantes.

Cette nouvelle nous vient du magazine britannique Air Forces Monthly.
( une source sure )

c'etais en septembre 2007

Modernizing the Royal Thai Air Force

http://defense-update.com/20131106_rta.html

Aujourd'hui

[M1a2 Abrams]

Caesar

[sadral]

Northrop Grumman to Supply AN/TPS-78 Air Defense Radar Systems to Royal Thai Air Force



Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by the Royal Thai Air Force to supply additional AN/TPS-78 air defense and surveillance radar systems.

Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman will begin supplying equipment to the Royal Thai Air Force in 2015. The company will also provide training, spares and logistics support.

"With this award, we continue our 25 years of support of the Royal Thai Air Force and the national security infrastructure of Thailand," said Robert Royer, vice president of Northrop Grumman's International Systems business unit. "Highly mobile and proven in a wide range of environmental conditions, the AN/TPS-78 will give the Royal Thai Air Force a powerful new capability for monitoring its national airspace."

The Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-78 is among the latest generation of highly mobile, state-of-the-art radars made possible by advances in high power transistor technology and designed to operate in some of the harshest, most demanding environments. The radar has proven particularly adept at detecting small targets in areas of difficult land and sea clutter, making it well suited for use in mountainous and coastal regions.

The S-Band, long-range AN/TPS-78 is in use with the U.S. Air Force and a variety of customers worldwide. To date, AN/TPS-78 systems have logged more than 1 million operating hours.

http://www.northropgrumman.com/MediaRes ... d=10059364

[sadral]

ATLAS ELEKTRONIK to deliver Sonar systems for new Thailand frigate



ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH has been commissioned by the Korean yard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) with the supply and integration of a bow sonar (ASO) as well as a low-frequency active towed array sonar (ACTAS) for a new frigate of the Royal Thai Navy. Delivery of the systems is planned to take place early in 2016.

Together, the two systems offer active and passive sonars for the detection, tracking and classification of underwater vehicles, such as submarines, torpedoes and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). In addition, these sonars are able to detect and classify small speedboats, divers or floating obstacles, e.g. containers or tethered mines.

The ASO bow sonar operates in the frequency range between 6 and 9 kHz and provides a surveillance radius of up to 15 kilometres around the ship. This makes it most suitable for the self-protection of the ship. The towed array sonar ACTAS operates in the low-frequency range from about 2 kHz and permits observation of the sea space at ranges considerably above 60 kilometres, depending on the propagation conditions of the water. This gives the sonar an operational range that by far exceeds that of radars and the weapons range of submarines. The system is therefore not only ideal for hunting submarines but also for the wide-area reconnaissance of surface combatants.

Both sonar systems represent the state of the art from ATLAS ELEKTRONIK and, besides newly developed signal processing methods, offer a unified hardware design with the corresponding simplifications in servicing and support.

http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/atla ... d-frigate/