BAE Systems is eyeing opportunities offshore patrol vessels (OPV) for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and is participating at the ongong show with a wide range of its defence products. A scale model of an OPV in service with the Royal Thai navy and built by Bangkok Dock to a BAE Systems design with assistance from BAE Systems is on display. “As a global defence contractor BAE Systems offers capability and technology from different markets to fulfil the requirements of our customers. Over the next few years we will continue to offer the Offshore Patrol Vessel with its adaptable design which means it can perform a variety of missions making it comparable in capability to a far more expensive frigate; the ship designs are flexible enough to support the systems that are chosen by the user,” a company spokesperson told Daily News.
BAE Systems currently has a wide range of equipment in service with the Thai military including the Martello air defence radar, flight control and avionics systems on the (F-16, Gripen, T-50, rotary fleet). The L119 Light Gun, M109 Howitzer and M992 ammunition supply vehicle, M113 Bradley armoured vehicle and M88 armoured recovery vehicle. Both 90m Royal Thai Navy offshore patrol vessels (HTMS Krabi and HTSM Prachuab Khiri Khan). Mk45 Naval Gun, Bofors Naval Guns (40mm and 57mm), VEMS mine warfare and the String Ray torpedo. A model of the M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer is also in display. The lightweight 155mm artillery gun is in service throughout the world and is capable of delivering precision munitions and is air transportable. BAE Systems is able to transfer skills in order to train engineers at local facilities to produce the system locally.
“We will be joined by our colleagues from our Digital Intelligence cyber offering. They have been supporting the Thailand National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) on capacity and capability building activities as lead implementers for the UK FCDO Indo Pacific Cyber Programme. More directly, we are in active engagement with Thai NCSA on National Cyber Security strategies and capabilities,” the spokesperson informed. The UK based defence firm is also promoting its Faraday Dragon rideshare satellite. The Faraday Dragon is a multinational Asia-Pacific initiative that will provide ride sharing services for countries in the region and is backed by the UK National Space Agency.
