Thailand's New tanks due in May

Ukraine will deliver its first batch of T-84 Oplot main battle tanks to the army in May, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday.

Under the staggered delivery schedule, five of the tanks will be delivered in May, with another 50 tanks due by the end of 2015, he said. The army has ordered a total of 200 of the tanks.

During recent talks with the Ukraine government, Gen Prayuth said he had requested a speedier delivery of the battle tanks.

The first round of five tanks will be used for training purposes, he said.

There's A Secret War In Thailand No One's Talking About

Dispatch: not far from Thailand's tourist beaches, Muslims and Buddhists are locked in a struggle in which thousands have died. David Eimer reports.
The young father walked slowly down the road, his face expressionless, as a light rain fell. In his arms he held the lifeless body of his 11-month-old daughter, killed just hours before when the tea shop in his village was sprayed with automatic gunfire that left six people dead.
Fellow residents of the Muslim Damabuah Village in Thailand’s Narathiwat Province walked behind in silence, while men and women from the security forces lined the road clutching rifles.
A few minutes later, the infant was laid to rest in a shallow, muddy hole under a mangosteen tree in the village cemetery, beside the newly dug graves of two other victims of the tea shop shooting.
Infami Samoh’s death, a couple of hundred miles from the tourist playgrounds of Ko Samui and Phuket, was shocking only because of her age. The 11-month-old was one of the youngest of nearly 5,400 people who have been killed in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand in the past eight years.
More than 9,500 have been injured since 2004, when the long-festering grievances of the majority Muslim population in the region erupted into outright guerrilla war against the overwhelmingly Buddhist Thai state.
With more than 20 million visitors a year and tourism contributing an estimated six per cent of the country’s GDP, Thailand is fiercely protective of its reputation as the Land of Smiles. But the deep south is a different world, the beaches deserted, foreign visitors non-existent.
Instead, the area is under a form of emergency law that gives special powers to the 150,000 soldiers, police and local militias deployed in the region.
Military convoys rumble through the towns and villages, checkpoints dominate the roads, while mobile phones are frequently jammed to prevent the insurgents using them to set off bombs, 2,500 of which have been planted since 2004.

About 80 per cent of the 1.8 million people living in the provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala that border Malaysia in the south are ethnic Malay Muslims. They speak Malay as their first language and many want their own state, as the region once was hundreds of years ago.
“The land here was colonised by the Thais. In the past, we were a country, the Sultanate of Pattani. We want to take it back. We don’t want to be part of Thailand or Malaysia; we want to have our own country,” a senior representative of the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO), one of the two main insurgent groups, told The Daily Telegraph.
Now, appalling acts of violence such as the tea shop massacre have become commonplace in the region, as a relentless wave of revenge attacks by Buddhists and Muslims fuel the conflict.
Gruesome tit-for-tat killings occur daily, with victims gunned down or beheaded in the rubber plantations that dominate the local economy.
Buddhist monks are confined to their temples, able to leave only under armed guard lest they be attacked, while mosques are riddled with bullet holes after being targets.
A few hours after Infami Samoh died, five Muslim gunmen walked into a school canteen in Pattani Province and shot dead the Buddhist headmaster and a Buddhist teacher in front of their pupils.
More than 150 Buddhist teachers have been murdered since 2004, but the killings have increased recently, while hundreds of schools have been burnt down because they are regarded as symbols of the Thai state by the separatists.
Yingluck Shinawatra, the Thai prime minister, made a rare visit to the region last month to meet representatives of local teachers. Before her visit, separatists distributed leaflets saying “This war isn’t over. Don’t count the teachers’ corpses just yet”.
Ranged against the Thai security forces are an estimated 12,500 to 15,000 separatists. “We are normal people. We’re rubber tappers, rice farmers, small business owners, teachers. We are present in every village in the deep south,” said the PULO representative, a well-spoken middle-aged man who asked not to be named, or for the location of the interview to be revealed.
Along with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C), the other main separatist group, PULO operates in the shadows, rarely issuing statements or demands. At the same time, Thai politicians and the media play down the insurgency, the most violent internal conflict in south-east Asia, according to the International Crisis Group think tank.
Last month, Chalerm Yabamrung, the deputy prime minister, refused to accept a new report by the Australian Institute for Economics and Peace that said five per cent of all global terrorist attacks between 2002 and 2009 occurred in Thailand. “Thailand is not yet the land of terrorism because we are a Buddhist country,” said Mr Chalerm.
Yet, it is the imposition of Buddhist and Thai culture on the deep south that is many claim is driving the insurgency.
“Our children are taught only Thai in school, but we all speak Malay. They have to learn about Buddhism as part of the Thai curriculum, but we are Muslims,” said one man in Pattani Town.
Above all, many Muslims complain of human rights abuses by the security forces, in particular the paramilitary rangers known as the black army because of their all-black uniforms.
In Damabuah Village, known as a hotbed of BRN-C activity, relations of the victims of the tea shop massacre had no doubt who was responsible – although their belief is contested by the Thais.
“There are black army checkpoints at each end of the village which the killers had to pass through,” said Shukri Nikmea, whose father died in the attack. “You draw your own conclusions on who did it.”

ST KINETICS Launches The ExtremV – an Advanced All-Terrain Emergency Vehicle for Disaster Relief and Rescue

Singapore – ST Kinetics extends its offering of all-terrain vehicles to disaster relief and rescue applications with the launch of the ExtremV, an all-terrain tracked emergency vehicle specially customised for disaster relief and rescue missions. This is in response to a growing demand worldwide for more capable disaster relief and rescue solutions amid volatile weather conditions and devastating natural disasters.

For emergency personnel and supplies to get quickly to disaster-hit areas, it is crucial for countries to ensure the robustness of their disaster relief supply chains. The ExtremV enables quick response and relief into difficult-to-access areas with its high mobility and keeps the vital flow of emergency personnel and supplies going immediately after disaster hits with its high and versatile payload.

The ExtremV, an evolution of ST Kinetics' highly successful BRONCO family of all-terrain tracked vehicles, offers extreme mobility in difficult terrain. Its back cabin can be flexibly configured for multiple disaster relief missions, ranging from emergency rescue, medical evacuation, to fire fighting and transportation of essential supplies.


After Japan’s Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2011, ST Kinetics partnered with Morita Corporation (Morita) of Japan, a leading provider of fire protection technologies and environmental solutions to the Japanese government, and secured an evaluation contract to supply a Rescue and Transporter variant of the ExtremV to the Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA). The Rescue and Transport variant is capable of sending up to 12 rescuers into difficult-to-reach disaster-hit areas to render timely assistance in search and rescue missions.

“The ExtremV, with its all-terrain mobility and multi-role flexibility is ST Kinetics’ response to the rising global demand for a versatile disaster relief and rescue emergency vehicle. We are glad to deliver to the Japanese FDMA a unit of the ExtremV for evaluation and strongly believe that it will prove to be a trusted solution in saving lives and bringing relief to people in times of need.” ~ SEW Chee Jhuen, President, ST Kinetics

At the ExtremV’s launch ceremony on 7 December 2012, ST Kinetics handed over the Rescue and Transporter variant to Morita, which will deliver and support the evaluation of the vehicle by FDMA.

Thai navy deflects allegations of irregularities

The Royal Thai Navy yesterday countered the opposition's allegation of irregularities surrounding the navy's scheme to modernise combat systems on two frigates.

ADM Thaweewut Pongpipat, a special adviser to the navy who serves as chairman of the committee implementing the scheme, said Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat had nothing to do with the changes made to the procurement of the combat systems.

ACM Sukumpol had inquired with the navy about the changes, which were solely the navy's decision, said ADM Thaweewut.
The navy had changed from the New Generation Dagaie System (NGDS) revolving decoy system by Sagem to the non-revolving Soft Kill Weapon System (SKWS) by Terma because the first choice required too much space to be fitted to the frigates and cost a lot more, he said.
Saab AB, which was awarded the navy contract to upgrade the combat systems, had inspected the frigates and determined that the Sagem's NGDS could not be fitted to the warships due to a lack of room, said ADM Thaweewut.
The non-revolving decoy system, on the other hand, could be installed in a position that allows for ideal coverage in combat, he said.

However, Sirichok Sopha, Democrat MP for Songkhla, said during Sunday's censure debate that the Sagem decoy unit can provide significantly better protection from missile threats, as it has 360-degree coverage. The Terma decoy system was a "World War II-period military technology" that had limited air defence capabilities due to its design, said Mr Sirichok.
ADM Thaweewut insisted that the Terma system was not outdated. It has been updated recently so that warships no longer needed to turn to launch the decoys in different directions, he said.
ADM Thaweewut said that most Nato member countries use this system, citing Denmark, Australia, the US, Indonesia, Morocco, Chile, and Romania.
The Sagem decoy system costs 300 million baht whereas the Terma system costs only 200 million baht _ Saab AB had offered accessories worth a total of 103 million baht, he added.
"The decoy system costs only 300 million baht, so it was impossible for us to get the 1 billion baht of 'spare change' as claimed by Mr Sirichok," said ADM Thaweewut.
The defence minister was also questioned by the opposition over a contract for the repair and maintenance of three vessels involving Marsun Co worth 553.5 million baht.
Marsun apparently failed to meet the terms of reference (ToR) but was awarded the contract anyway, said Democrat list-MP Alongkorn Ponlabutr.
Mr Alongkorn said the deal drew the attention of the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG), which suspected unfair competition and recommended a review. VADM Pallop Tamisanon, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of the navy, insisted that project was done strictly according to the ToR.
ADM Jakchai Phucharoenyos, navy chief of staff, said the navy was ready to explain the deal to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Thai Army Receives M-198 Howitzer Worth of 850 Million

Royal Thai Army adds M198 artillery with enhanced capabilities, valued of 850 million. 

On Nov 21, the Army report said that U.S. Army Ordnance center has a 54 M198 field howitzer. Thailand purchases M198 approximately 850 million, credit line to the ship from the United States and arrive at Laem Chabang, Chonburi, Thailand on October 19. From the conveyor, which is stored inside the shed ports on Nov 20. M198 to be transported to artillery units in the Army at Prachin Buri, Kanchanaburi and Chonburi on 23 Nov for inspection.

The M-198 was purchased to replace field artillery M-114 A1 size 155 mm used since 1960. In 2009 the Army Ordnance and Senior High Officers of the army of Thailand to the United States to buy guns M 198 which stored and not being used. The  procurement system use Foreign Military Sale (FMS).

However, Thailand's army to buy 155 mm M198 howitzer with good quality and the U.S. Army Ordnance to make improvements in the quality. Where the limit is about 16-17 million per one barrel cannon.

Correspondent reported M-198 medium artillery howitzer produced by the United States, width 155 mm, length of barrel 39 caliber revolver Excalibur Length 12.34 meters in the cylinder and barrel heavy gun and secondary gun weighs 7,030 kg car barreled 40 screw clockwise spiral in the first round of the 20 Excalibur. The rate of fire 2-4 shots/min and maximum range is 30,000 yards with the bullet feeder. Size 155 mm ammunition packed separately.

The tactical use of artillery medium artillery projectile M 198 is a separate body curved rail gun shots fired by pulling the trigger of the. The end of the screw threading grooving machine is reflected back with Hydro Pneumatic Installation (liquid with gas) fired by aiming straight and Indirect mobile towing a car carrying five tons in the United States. The M198 artillery forces also were sent on a mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) or NATO brigade and light weapons in many countries. The M198 can be transported by air, artillery and battalions.

The tactical use of medium artillery projectile M 198 is a separate body curved rail gun shots fired by pulling the trigger. The end of the screw threading grooving machine is reflected back with hydro pneumatic installation (liquid with gas) fired by aiming straight and indirect mobile towing a car carrying five tons. In the United States, the M198 artillery forces also were sent on a mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO brigade and light weapons in many countries. The M198 can be transported by air, artillery and battalions.

USA: Thailand Endorses the Proliferation Security Initiative

The United States welcomes the Kingdom of Thailand’s decision to endorse the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). President Obama has commended Thailand for its decision to participate in the Initiative, which advances our shared vision of a secure and peaceful Asia-Pacific where the rights and responsibilities of all nations are upheld. The United States looks forward to working with the Royal Thai Government to advance the nonproliferation goals of the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles. Thailand is the 102nd state to become a PSI participant.

Launched in Krakow, Poland in 2003, the PSI will mark its tenth anniversary in May 2013. PSI participants commit to undertake measures, on a voluntary basis and consistent with their authorities and resources, to interdict illicit transfers of weapons of mass destruction- and missile-related items, exchange relevant information, and strengthen legal authorities to conduct interdictions. They also conduct exercises, workshops, and other activities to improve their capacities to fulfill their PSI commitments. The addition of each new participating state strengthens the Initiative and helps ensure that it will remain a durable international effort in the years ahead.

The United States urges all responsible states to endorse and participate in the PSI. For more information on the Proliferation Security Initiative, please see the State Department’s website

Thai Army To Acquire Starstreak Missile

The Royal Thai Army has purchased Thales UK’s Starstreak air defense missile. The deal was announced during a visit to London by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The two sides declined to give a value or delivery date for the very-short-range air defense missile already purchased by British and South African armed forces.

The Thai military will deploy the weapon from lightweight, portable, multiple launchers rather than the vehicle-mounted option favored by the British.

Built and developed by Thales in Northern Ireland, the missile has a peak speed of more than Mach 3. The company said that as the world’s fastest very-short-range missile, it can travel a kilometer in less than a second.

Thailand Becomes the 34th Asia Pacific Region Country to Deploy Lockheed Martin’s Long Range Radar

When the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) activated its new TPS-77 radar recently, it greatly expanded the Thailand’s long-range air surveillance network capability.  In particular, the radar helps provide greater air sovereignty, security and safety over much of the Gulf of Thailand.

With this direct commercial sale and installation now successfully completed, Thailand became the owner of the 34th Lockheed Martin long-range radar operational in the Asia Pacific region. Thailand joins countries such as Korea, Taiwan and Australia, who have relied on Lockheed Martin’s family of 3-D, solid-state, L-band surveillance radars for decades.

More countries are recognizing the need to enhance their air surveillance with modern, cost-effective radar systems.  In February, Lockheed Martin and Indonesian technology firm PT CMI Teknologi signed a teaming agreement to pursue the National Airspace Surveillance – Republic of Indonesia (NASRI) program, a new network of radar systems that will improve airspace surveillance, safety and management over the Indonesian Archipelago.

Lockheed Martin ground-based air surveillance radars are the choice of more than 30 nations on six continents.  Today, 178 Lockheed Martin long-range systems operate around the world—more than all other competitive radars combined.

Lockheed Martin’s TPS-59, TPS-77 and FPS-117 family of radars are high-performing, reliable, solid state systems specializing in early warning, situational awareness, and ballistic and tactical missile surveillance and defense.

Commonality in supporting and sustaining a fleet of 178 long-range radars operational around the world allows for leveraging signal and data processing upgrades to continually modernize systems and provide significant lifecycle cost savings.

The TPS-77 is the latest configuration of the world’s most successful 3-D solid-state radar design. This transportable radar provides continuous high-quality 3-D surveillance on aircraft targets at ranges out to 250 nautical miles. The TPS-77 shares commonality with Lockheed Martin’s FPS-117 radar with regard to maintenance activity and Line Replaceable Units. Many have performed for years completely unmanned in remote areas, and in a wide range of operational environments.

The Royal Thai Army Signs A Contract for Two AW139s

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Royal Thai Army has signed a contract for two AW139 twin-engine helicopters. These aircraft will be delivered in 2014 to perform transport and utility missions across the nation. The contract, which also includes a comprehensive maintenance and training package, marks the entrance of the AW139 into Thailand’s military helicopter market and further expands the success of the type in the country.

Vincenzo Alaimo, Head of Region, AgustaWestland, said “It gives us great pleasure to sign this contract with the Royal Thai Army to support their transport requirements. We are confident this model, thanks to its unmatched performance, comfort and safety, has significant potential in Thailand in the future.” The Royal Thai Army adds to a growing number of military customers that have ordered or are already operating the AW139 for a wide range of roles including VVIP and government transport, utility, search and rescue, emergency medical service and homeland security. The armed forces of Ireland, Qatar, UAE, Italy and Egypt are just some of those operating the AW139 today.

The AW139 delivers best-in-class performance with a cruise speed of 165 knots (306 kph), a range in excess of 500 nm (927 km), endurance of 5 hours and superior hover performance. It also has the largest cabin in its class which can accommodate up to 15 passengers. The unobstructed cabin design allows maximum flexibility for different seating configurations and the transport of equipment. The baggage compartment, provides a massive 3.4 cubic metres (120 cubic feet) of storage which is easily accessible from both the cabin and outside the helicopter. The AW139 is the world’s best selling helicopter in its class and the only new generation aircraft in its class in service today. Over 500 AW139s are now in service worldwide. Almost 170 customers from more than 50 countries have ordered nearly 650 AW139 helicopters so far.

MoD Sets Better Specs for MLRS - Thailand

A multi-barreled missile defense system will be changed from the TYPE-81 to SR-4 to keep up with technology and improved performance, it is necessary to add more than two million Baht.

       

It was reported that based on government sources disclosed that the Cabinet with the Prime Minister Ms Yingluck Shinawatra on October 2 meeting to discuss about the details of the project budget to provide a multi-barreled rocket launchers caliber 122 mm for 4 vehicles.

The source said, as a result of the meeting to the Cabinet of the Ministry of Defence suggested that procurement of multi-barreled rocket launchers 122mm caliber with loans from People's Republic of China worth 696 million from the previous TYPE-81 is proposed to be upgraded to SR-4 with a reason to increase the technology becomes better. Cabinet meeting to change the amount of the original budget 694 million increased 2 million more.

Thailand Army in new bid to get its airship flying

The army has agreed to pay 50 million baht more to an American airship producer to make its 350-million-baht airship fly for the first time since its procurement.

An army source said the army signed a contract with Aria International Inc on Sept 20 to make the surveillance airship stay up in the air.
The company was originally hired to provide the airship, which has not flown since its arrival in the country.my chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered the contract because he does not want the airship to rest in its hangar in Pattani province any longer.
The contractor is confident it can make the airship fly by November.
The airship has been unable to fly since its delivery about two years ago. The army formally accepted the airship in July last year. Since then it has had to pay for its maintenance.
The army has paid 200,000-300,000 baht a month to refill the airship with helium, to help the airship keep its shape and avoid leaks. The army has paid about 25 million baht altogether for refills in the past year.
The airship was ordered during the tenure of former army chief Anupong Paochinda who hoped it would
help deter threats in the three southern border provinces. However, it was criticised for being unsuitable for security missions in the far South, as it could be shot down with ease.
Poor storage caused multiple leaks, and the supplier repaired it once. The cameras of the airship and their video streaming system are also out of order.

Saab to set up communication systems between Thailand’s frigates and Gripens

Royal Thai Navy has allocated a budget of THB 3,300 million for Swedish Saab Group to set up an electronic communication systems on the twin frigates “Naresuan -Taksin’ which will allow communication between the frigates and Thailand’s existing JAS-39 Gripen’s ERIEYE airborne early warning and surveillance system.

Early this year the navy has also installed a similar electronic communication system from Sweden on Royal Narubes vessel to connect with the Gripen’s advanced early warning system.

According to Jane’s defense and security news website, as part of the purchase plan of USD 1,100 million, Royal Thai Air Force will receive the second batch of six Gripen fighter aircrafts from Sweden next year, in which they will have another Gripen with Saab 340 airborne early warning system.

In June 2011, Saab group has announced the plan of Royal Thai Navy to upgrade the frigates with the latest generation of combat management and fire control systems, 9LV Mk4 and CEROS 200. As reported, the plan was also for Saab to supply data-link equipment to the ships, which will allow interoperability between naval and airborne units.

Jane’s news also reported that Royal Thai navy also has a plan to purchase two frigates of 2,000 – 3,000 tons with a minimum speed of +25 knots, a missile system and a helipad for a helicopter of 10 tons. The navy has an eye on the ones produced in Korea and Germany.

Eurocopter to Supply Four EC725 SAR Helicopters to the Royal Thai Air Force

A contract was signed today between Eurocopter and the Royal Thai Air Force for the supply of four EC725 helicopters, configured for search and rescue missions.

Signing the new agreement today were Air Marshal Paiboon Singhamat of the Royal Thai Air Force, and Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President for Sales and Customer Relations.

“This latest endorsement underscores the role of our EC725/EC225 family as the helicopters of reference in Asia for search & rescue,” Lambert said. “It also marks a new step in Eurocopter’s expansion of its ties with Thailand as the country moves ahead with modernization programs for its helicopter fleets.”

Deliveries of the EC725, the twin-engine tactical rotorcraft from Eurocopter's successful Cougar family, will be in 2015.

“This contract for the EC725 will greatly enhance the capabilities of the Royal Thai Air Force, giving us added reach and effectiveness in search and rescue missions," stated Air Marshal Paiboon Singhamat, Chairman of the Purchasing Committee.

The twin-engine EC725/EC225 rotary-wing aircraft family features high-performance navigation and mission systems, including a unique digital four-axis autopilot. Offering excellent flight autonomy, this powerful machine is also great for tactical transport as it has a large cabin with seating for 25 persons. As a result, the EC725 military version and its EC225 civilian/parapublic variant have become the reference for civil and military search and rescue, off-shore and passenger transport missions around the world.

Eurocopter already is a helicopter supplier in Thailand for military and law enforcement, having been selected for acquisitions by the Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Police.
  

Thailand Cabinet okays frigate buy

The cabinet yesterday approved a navy proposal to buy two top-class frigates costing around 30 billion baht within the next five years.

According to a source, the navy has turned to frigates following the government's rejection of its preferred option to purchase submarines from Germany. The navy has yet to choose a supplier.
It favours frigates from European shipyards which have good track records of building such top-quality frigates, the source said.
Builders in Germany and Spain are tipped to win the contract to supply the warships for the navy, he added.
However, senior naval officers are concerned that some politicians might try to push for the purchase of Chinese-made frigates.
The navy currently has two frigate flotillas that are capable of launching surface-to-surface missiles. They are all equipped with helipads.
Frigates can defend national waters, operate with fast attack craft, battle other surface vessels, defend against aircraft, as well as protect other vessels and combat submarines.

The navy also intends to keep the frigate, HTMS Naresuan, in service. The cabinet yesterday allowed the navy to borrow 3.29 billion baht from 2012 to 2014 to pay for a refit and to modernise its computer systems which will allow the vessel to link up with the information systems used by the air force's Gripen jet fighters.
The cost of the work will come to 495 million baht this fiscal year, 1.33 billion baht in fiscal year 2013 and 1.46 billion baht in fiscal year 2014.
The cabinet also approved yesterday a request by the army for permission to borrow 2.82 billion baht to buy helicopters. This will take place through to the 2014 fiscal year.

Cabinet Approves 1.499 Budget for Rocket Research

BANGKOK - The Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra has approved the funding for a research project to develop a multi lauched rocket missiles systems DT1-1G Phase 1 which the Ministry of Defence presented to the Cabinet meeting. Total budget 1,499,943,634 per year implementation period from 2012 to 2014.

The study was carried by The Defence Technology Institute Ministry of Defence -Thailand and the expertise of the China National Precision Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CPMIEC) of China as a consultant.

After the meeting is finished, no statement regarding this decision in any way.

Cabinet Approved the Procurement of Four EC-725 Helicopters for RTAF

It has reported that the Cabinet approved the procurement of Air Force helicopters from Eurocopter 4 aircraft worth U.S. $ 4 billion, although the report did not specify the version that will be provided. But it is quite certain that the EC725 Super Cougar Search and Rescue.

Air Force plans to supply helicopters to replace UH-1H, Air Force will be supplied with 16 aircraft by dividing the project into three phases: Phase 1 acquisition of four aircraft, phase two : supply 8 aircraft, and phase 3 : 4 supply 4 aircraft.

The EC725 is a versatile long-range development from Super Puma or Cougar-2 family, pilot carrying troops or the weight of 28 tons, 2 Turbomeca Makila 2A1 engine, operating range 857 mile range, fly 1325 miles with a top speed of 175 knots. In service in France, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico, total orders to date (not counting the orders of the United States) are 131 aircraft.

Sources in the Air Force told to ThaiArmedForce.com that there was 4 company that competes : Sikorsky S-92 from American, EC725 from Eurocopter in Europe, AW139 from AugustaWestland of Italy, and Mi-17 from Kazan/Ulan-Ude from Russia. Primarily by the Air Force's Mi-17 and AW139 cut out.

The Air Force is committed to supply the S-92 with the procurement of three aircrafts, that the Royal Aircraft recently acquired. However, sources indicate that the S-92 does not offer Search and Rescue equipment to the Air Force. The Air Force is required to purchase equipment for Search and Rescue and the EC725 is equipped with it. As a result, the total price will be, and the Air Force to procure changes in the EC725.

While this has not been officially signed the contract. The process is still under negotiation.

Four Thai Pilots Completed Gripen Training by Swedish Armed Force

Following the news that Royal Thai Air Force has purchased the Gripen fighter aircrafts, four Thai pilots have now completed the 11-week Gripen control training course by Swedish Armed Force.  Swedish Air Force Commander Major General Micael Byden recently handed certifications to the four pilots who will be based in Wing 7 division in Surathani province in Thailand.

The four Thai pilots were trained both in theory and practice in Gripen simulator.

They are the third lot from Royal Thai Air Force to enter the training. Last year six Thai pilots were sent to train at Skaraborg Wing, F 7, which is the base of JAS 39 Gripen, located in the south of Sweden for six months.

The first lot of Thai pilots was sent to train in Sweden for a year in 2010, where the programs included Air Defence and Ground-Attack trainings. They trained in Gripen simulator as well as in real Gripen aircrafts, reported Manager.co.th.

Royal Thai Air Force is the first air force in Southeast Asia to have JAS 39 Gripen base. Thailand has entered ‘Gripen Users’ Group which consists of six nations including Hungary, South Africa, Czech Republic, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The air force has ordered 12 Gripen fighter aircrafts in 2008. Six of them were delivered in February last year.

Enstrom Completes Thai Helicopter Delivery

Enstrom Helicopter Corp. has delivered all 16 of the contracted 480B turbine training and utility helicopters to Thailand's army.

Deliveries were completed on budget and ahead of contracted requirements, Enstrom said in a written statement. "From contract-signing to final delivery, we completed this program in just 19 months," Enstrom President and Chief Executive Officer Jerry Mullins said.
"That included engineering, developing, testing, building and delivering 16 of the most advanced turbine training helicopters in the world."
The helicopters have Cobham electronic flight instrumentation systems, dual Wulfsberg RT-5000 transceivers, Honeywell radar altimeters and dual electronic-analog flight instrumentation.


"I think we've shown a small company can do big things," said Mullins.
Under a deal signed in October 2009, the helicopters have power line detection systems designed and manufactured by Safe Flight Instrument in White Plains, N.Y.
Safe Flight's PDS detects the electromagnetic fields of live power lines and alerts pilots with visual and aural warnings. As the aircraft flies closer to the power line, the warning intensifies.
Enstrom makes the 480B as a three-place advanced trainer and patrol aircraft as well as a three- to five-seat executive transport. Special law enforcement variants are made, called the 480B Guardian and the F28F Sentinel.
David Blake, of Enstrom's Asia representative Blake and DeJong, told Flight Global aviation Web site in early 2010 the 16 helicopters are the first 480Bs for the army but Thailand's civil aviation training school has two older Enstrom 480 models.
The Thai army flies medium Bell TH-67s and Schweizer 300s for training. Enstrom won the tender pitching against six other manufacturers.
In July 2011, Flight Global reported the Thai army had grounded its fleet of 54 Bell 212 helicopters after a crash that month that left three dead.
Local media reports said the 212 was lost in benign conditions as it flew to participate in a search-and-rescue mission near the border with Myanmar.
The mission was to retrieve nine bodies from the site of a Thai army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk that had crashed 19 July, Flight Global reported.
The Black Hawk was lost while attempting to retrieve five bodies from the site where a Bell UH-1 helicopter crashed on 16 July.
The Bell 212 was heading toward a mountainous, heavily forested area northwest of Bangkok when it crashed.
Enstrom also announced this year it had signed a contract with its representative in Japan to supply the Japanese military with 28 480-B aircraft by 2014. The deal with Aero Facility in Japan was signed at the Helicopter Aviation Industry convention in Dallas in February.

Thai Defense Force chief renews ties with Philippine military

General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Chief of Defense Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, visits the General Headquarters Canopy area Wednesday, August 15, 2012. His visit was aimed to renew and further strengthen the bilateral military ties between the Philippines and Thailand. 


MANILA, Philippines—The newly installed chief of Defense Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, General Tanasak Patimapragorn, visited Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday to “renew” and “further strengthen bilateral relations” between Thailand and the Philippines.

Tanasak and other Thai military officers were welcomed with arrival honors led by his counterpart, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa, and other officials. He later met with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

He was also expected to meet the commanding generals of the Philippine Army, Air Force and Navy.

“The Philippine military and the Royal Thai Defense Force are more than just friends, we are more like cousins in the Asean community,” the Thai military chief said.


Tanasak invited Philippine military officers  to undergo training at the Royal Thai Army War College, which is the equivalent of the National Defense College of the Philippines. He also encouraged to increase military-to-military exchange for education training.

 Source
Asian Defence News

Thailand seeks Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles from US

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified US Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support to Thailand.

Under the estimated $18m FMS, Thailand had requested for nine ESSMs, three MK25 quad pack canisters, four MK783 shipping containers, spare and repair parts, as well as support and test equipment.

The package also includes publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and technical assistance, in addition to other related elements of logistical and programme support.

“The missiles will assist the frigates from the Royal Thai Navy in developing and maintaining a reliable ship self-defence capability against current and future threats from anti-ship weapons.”

Expected to support the foreign policy and national security of the US, the missile capability will help bolster Thailand's regional security and improve interoperability with the US military during operational and exercise programmes.

The missiles will assist the frigates from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) in developing and maintaining a reliable ship self-defence capability against current and future threats from anti-ship weapons.

Fitted with a new rocket motor, the ESSM is an upgrade of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile, developed by Raytheon with an international co-operative effort of ten Nato countries.

Integrated on various launchers and combat systems, the medium-range, semi-active homing missile is capable of making flight corrections through radar and S and X-band midcourse data uplinks.

ESSM is currently installed on US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Ticonderoga-class cruisers, aircraft carriers and large deck amphibious ships, as well as on various surface combatants of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Turkey.

Asian Defence News