Thailand’s Military Forges Ahead with Israel Artillery System

The Southeast Asian state has moved forward on a purchase that has long been in the works.

By Prashanth Parameswaran

 

Last month, Thailand moved forward on the acquisition of an Israeli artillery system. The development is just the latest sign of collaboration between the two countries as Bangkok looks to boost its capabilities to address a range of security challenges.

 

As I have noted before, Thailand and Israel have developed a close working defense relationship over the past few years, and both countries already have ongoing defense collaboration in a number of areas, with Israeli companies concluding past deals with the Thai military (See: “The Truth About Thailand’s Defense Budget ‘Hike’”).

 

One area of collaboration has been Elbit Systems’ Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer system (ATMOS) 155mm self-propelled howitzer. In 2012, Elbit initiated a program with the Royal Thai Army (RTA) involving technology transfer, where Elbit built the first ATMOS platform in Israel and subsequent ones were produced by the Artillery and Mortar Production Division of the Royal Thai Army’s (RTA’s) Weapon Production Center.

 

Full story: https://thediplomat.com/2018/04/thailands-military-forges-ahead-with-israel-artillery-system/

 

-- THE DIPLOMAT 2018-04-17

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boost its defenses on its eastern border

 

A very good decision, considering a threat resurges roughly every 4-5 years from the general area east of Onnut Road.

A purchase to stop the invading hordes from where?

the bill for infrastructure spending could  have been lowered a little 

with these monies, 

once these shells are exhausted in battle , the tanks then take over , and once they have been disabled and all the people are pushed back to the sea, the submarine will defend them, once the submarine has been destroyed, 

what can we buy then, 

the strategy of buying bigger better, best becomes never ending.

The Quartermaster who must be fantastic at his job supplying and keeping stock of all of these purchases from China, USA, Russia, Israel,  and who ever else is in the mix.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Last month, Thailand moved forward on the acquisition of an Israeli artillery system.

more needless military purchases for a internationally noted bloated military;

thailand's military serves a single purpose, coups, and to what extent, is artillery a factor in that ?

19 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

A purchase to stop the invading hordes from where?

the bill for infrastructure spending could  have been lowered a little 

with these monies, 

once these shells are exhausted in battle , the tanks then take over , and once they have been disabled and all the people are pushed back to the sea, the submarine will defend them, once the submarine has been destroyed, 

what can we buy then, 

the strategy of buying bigger better, best becomes never ending.

The Quartermaster who must be fantastic at his job supplying and keeping stock of all of these purchases from China, USA, Russia, Israel,  and who ever else is in the mix.

 

 

 

By my reckoning that makes 15 different types of howitzers, 7 155mm calibre and 8 105mm calibre.

 

The logistic, ammunition holdings and resupply, repair and training systems needed to keep that variety of equipment working and their crews trained (especially bearing in mind that most will be conscripts serving for two years or less) must be a fantastic effort!

That Quartermaster must be a very very busy chap!

3 minutes ago, JAG said:

By my reckoning that makes 15 different types of howitzers, 7 155mm calibre and 8 105mm calibre.

 

The logistic, ammunition holdings and resupply, repair and training systems needed to keep that variety of equipment working and their crews trained (especially bearing in mind that most will be conscripts serving for two years or less) must be a fantastic effort!

That Quartermaster must be a very very busy chap!

 

"...The logistic, ammunition holdings and resupply, repair and training systems needed to keep that variety of equipment working and their crews trained..."

 

Where did you get the idea that the above was necessary? Why would it need to work?

 

As long as it shines, glistens and looks pretty on Children's Day, everyone gets a 'gold star' to take home to Mommy and a promotion.

 

Beach smokers can now be taken out at distance  also needed for walking street bar owners who can now beef up their security but why the military needs more guns is a mystery.  

Paging Eric.

next '' the iron dome''..

I don't think you need an artillery system to quash urban civil unrest.

Don't get why they need all these armaments. The biggest instability to the military here is a dodgy som-tam.   

Edited April 17, 20188 yr by RichardColeman

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok looks to boost its capabilities to address a range of security challenges.

The biggest security challenges have been a few well behaved, non violent protesters and two ravens killing a pidgin during one of the unelected PM's enthralling news conferences.  How silly.  A waste of money per usual.  

42 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Don't get why they need all these armaments. The biggest instability to the military here is a dodgy som-tam.   

How do you think people who don't manufacture or sell anything and provide nothing but the illusion of security can make a halfway decent living, without being in the arms business?

51 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

I don't think you need an artillery system to quash urban civil unrest.

You don't.

To ensure that the opportunities offered by the procurement process are maximised, you do need to make regular significant purchases of "big ticket" items...

13 minutes ago, JAG said:

You don't.

To ensure that the opportunities offered by the procurement process are maximised, you do need to make regular significant purchases of "big ticket" items...

Something that both politicians and military have in common. Actually.. everyone in a position of power does this in Thailand.. buy something expensive get kickbacks and to hell with maintenance or comparability. 

Next buy UAC!

(Underwater Aircraft Carrier)

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

more needless military purchases for a internationally noted bloated military;

thailand's military serves a single purpose, coups, and to what extent, is artillery a factor in that ?

I presume you are in a nice and cozy cocoon?

Don't know about the trouble in the south?

Don't know about the rogue state and groups in the west?

Don't know about the communist states in the north and the east?

Don't know about the badly covered tensions in the east?

The Thai military isn't bloated, it's on par with the total population.

But underpowered and loaded with material that might be called insufficient, hence the acquisitions.

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

more needless military purchases for a internationally noted bloated military;

thailand's military serves a single purpose, coups, and to what extent, is artillery a factor in that ?

That is a slightly misleading statement - that the Thai military only exists for coups.

 

A better explanation can be found in Duncan McCargo's "Tearing Apart The Land."

 

"The Royal Thai Army is a uniformed bureaucracy that does not fight wars.It has never waged an independence struggle and has never repelled invaders in modern times.The core pursuits of the Thai Military are playing politics and engaging in business activities (including illegal activities, such as smuggling); when the occasion arises, commanders are not averse to killing a few unarmed civilians."

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

more needless military purchases for a internationally noted bloated military;

thailand's military serves a single purpose, coups, and to what extent, is artillery a factor in that ?

Soon they will have more equipment (and Generals) than soldiers! And two of those three items don't seem to work particularly well. 

Beside fighting off students , this military must waste billions on spares alone, nothing they have is uniform or cost effective........................................... 

A troll post has been removed

The Thai military is always buying unnecessary hardware it will likely never use in war or even know how to operate and maintain.

30% of all the baht  for military  purchases  go straight in the pocket of Prayuth and  his cronnies not including illegal commissions to manufacturers.

What use will all this kit ever be apart from using it against their own people ?   If a real conflict with another Nation started all the bloated Generals would flee the country, there would be no senior Military leadership and subsequently all the expensive hardware would be abandoned to the enemy by uselessly trained 'Soldiers' and Conscripts !

Looking at countries like Rwanda, Cameroon, Azebaijan and Uganda that bought ATMOS, you get the sense why Thailand military want to buy the artillery system. Those 3rd world corrupt regimes and bribes likely part of the sweetheart procurement contract. 

6 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Looking at countries like Rwanda, Cameroon, Azebaijan and Uganda that bought ATMOS, you get the sense why Thailand military want to buy the artillery system. Those 3rd world corrupt regimes and bribes likely part of the sweetheart procurement contract. 

Post 8, you're late! 

 

 

1 hour ago, chainarong said:

Beside fighting off students , this military must waste billions on spares alone, nothing they have is uniform or cost effective........................................... 

Oh, I don.t think that they buy spares to any extent.

once anything is broken and needs replacement, they will be parked up and left.

Does this mean more watches?

Some more info:

Under the arrangement with the Royal Thai Army, an initial six ATMOS systems were built and further orders of up to 12 have been reported since.

https://thediplomat.com/2017/05/thailand-marine-corps-eyeing-israel-artillery-system/

$27 million purchase.

Countries having ATMOS systems:

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1596.html

2 hours ago, robblok said:

Something that both politicians and military have in common. Actually.. everyone in a position of power does this in Thailand.. buy something expensive get kickbacks and to hell with maintenance or comparability. 

Bit of head scratcher. Why politicians want to buy military hardware. Don't see the commonality Rob. 

Have any of the critics on this thread considered that the purchase value of  US$26 million is chump change and is insignificant as far as purchases go? This suggests a limited number of items will be purchased and that they are most likely intended for specialized tasks. It is not unreasonable for Thailand to purchase new equipment to replace obsolete or broken equipment. Artillery pieces have a limited lifespan because of metal fatigue.  Some of the current artillery pieces in service are out of date and obsolete.

 

In case everyone has forgotten, Cambodia has  shelled Thailand in recent years, and there is significant turmoil on the border with  Myanmar due to the drug cartels. As well there is an insurgency in the south.