Thailand is diversifying its military procurement choices for the modernisation of its armed forces. It has traditionally depended on the USA for military equipment; however, China and South Korea are emerging as Thailand’s preferred choices for defence equipment. Sweden which has provided Thailand with fighter aircraft and airborne early warning platforms is expected to continue to remain an important strategic partner.
Emerging Defence Partner
Chinese arms exports to Thailand spiked four-fold between 2014 and 2018 and is likely to continue to grow at an accelerated pace till the end of this decade. In August 2022, Thailand based Aero Technology Industry Limited (ATIL) showcased unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Together with its Chinese partners, ATIL has worked closely with Thailand’s Defence R&D agency, the Defence Technology Institute (DTI) and the Royal Thai Army (RTA) to conceive three different drone systems to meet the future needs of the Thai armed forces. The DP16, DP20 and DP20-A drone systems which are essentially of Chinese origin are being configured to meet Thai needs.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) commissioned HTMS Chang in April this year, which is a Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD) manufactured by China State Shipbuilding Corp. Thailand is the first export customer for the Chinese built LPD, which has a displacement of over 20,000 tonnes and can reach a top speed of 25 knots. The HTMS Chang was originally purchased as part of the RTN’s 20-year plan to commission four large amphibious vessels for various operations by 2036. The new LPD which is 213 meters long and 28 meters wide can deploy eight amphibious vehicles or 11 wheeled armored vehicles. However, Thailand’s 2017 deal to procure three Chinese Yuan Class S26T submarines at a cost of approximately 26 billion baht ($996 million) has run aground due to China’s inability to procure the German engines needed to power these submarines. The RTN is now eyeing the procurement of a naval Frigate instead of these submarines.
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN), at the beginning of the year showcased its new Chinese-made FK-3 surface to air missile (SAM) system manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC). The FK-3, is the export variant of the HQ-22 medium- to long-range semi-active radar homing/radio command guidance air-defence system and can engage aerial targets out to ranges of 100 km.
Thailand is also the first export customer for the VT-4 main battle tank (MBT) made by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco). The Royal Thai Army (RTA) had placed orders for 28 VT-4s in 2016, with orders for additional 10 placed in 2017. The new Chinese built MBTs are replacing, the RTA’s U.S. origin M41 MBTs. The VT-4 MBT can fire armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive anti-tank cartridge (HEAT) and fragmentation-blast shells, with an armor-piercing capacity of 700mm. It can also fire a new Chinese armor-piercing shells, which can penetrate up to 1,000 mm of armour. The VT-4 made its debut in 2014 and in addition to Thailand, has gained export orders from Nigeria, and Pakistan.
Growing Partnership
South Korea has made a name for itself in recent years through the eye-catching growth of its defence industry. South Korean defence companies have sold defence equipment worth approximately US$2 billion to Southeast Asian countries from 2017 to 2021. The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 has conquered major ASEAN markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand along with the recent export of the FA-50M to Malaysia. Thailand has ordered 14 FA-50s for the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). According to SIPRI, South Korea accounted for 33 percent of Thailand’s total arms imports in the 2018-2022 period. In 2022, the South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) announced a new programme, the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative, which encompasses initiatives for defence cooperation, including maritime, cyber and defence-industrial cooperation.
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