Thai army paid much, much more for same helo used by King power CEO

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter

 

Image: Rach1968 / Blogspot

 

BANGKOK — While the media have saturated the country with tributes to the duty-free tycoon who died in a helicopter crash Saturday, a transparency activist noticed something unusual in the details.

 

Srisuwan Janya noted today that the military paid nearly three times as much as Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha did for the same type of chopper that he lost his life in. And Srisuwan, a persistent good-governance petitioner, wanted to know why.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2018/11/01/thai-army-paid-much-much-more-for-same-helo-used-by-king-power-ceo/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-11-1

 the military paid nearly three times as much as Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha did for the same type of chopper that he lost his life in. And Srisuwan, a persistent good-governance petitioner, wanted to know why.

 

I think we all know why, the real question is WHO ?

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by Thaiwrath

Well, hell, that's an easy one to figure out.  New Benz and BMW's are expensive! 

 

things that make you go "hmmm"

2 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Because it's imported.  Automatically double(s) the price.  Mini Cooper in LOS is 3 times more expensive than it is in the states.  The new Ford Mustang now available is 2.5 times more than the price in the states. 

Why is the Italian made helicopter more expensive ?

 

Thai government greed, that's why.

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by ukrules

But, but, Thaksin was corrupt...

Equally interesting is that of the 12 bought, between 2012 and 2017, only 5 are still working

 

Presumably, the difference in costs cannot be explained by a spare parts and maintenance package then...

40 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Srisuwan Janya noted today that the military paid nearly three times as much as Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha did for the same type of chopper that he lost his life in. And Srisuwan, a persistent good-governance petitioner, wanted to know why.

Maybe the ones the military bought work properly?

Because military helicopters have a lot more dedicated and specialist equipment that is fitted after the basic airframe is bought. Different radar, plating, rocket pods, gun control systems, anti-missile flare launchers, military radio systems bla bla bla.

30 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Why is the Italian made helicopter more expensive ?

 

Thai government greed, that's why.

Is a Ferrari/Lambourghini from Italy the same price in LOS as in Italy? Guess not..

31 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Because it's imported.  Automatically double(s) the price.  Mini Cooper in LOS is 3 times more expensive than it is in the states.  The new Ford Mustang now available is 2.5 times more than the price in the states. 

 

I think it safe to assume there is no 'official' import duty on Military Items....   but it would appear there is a 'taxation' of sorts... No surprise there, dig a little deeper and I think the Majority of such items are significantly more costly than transparency can account for. 

The Army got AW 139,the crashed one was a AW169. Its smaller

54 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Srisuwan, a persistent good-governance petitioner, wanted to know why.

bar, hot tub, sound system, lighting, bedroom... 

4 minutes ago, tc88biker said:

The Army got AW 139,the crashed one was a AW169. Its smaller

Come on, don't spill the beans now...they were having so much fun bashing the junta.

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by Thian

Vichais was much cheaper because he probably got it duty free!

Buying in Thailand includes paying something to everyone in sight, which naturally triples prices.

 

 

 

First of all for those unfamiliar with military procurement, especially aircraft, the cost per unit normally includes training pilots, spare parts, and technical support. Additionally, military helicopters are built to a completely different standard and configuration than civil models with the same basic model designation. Graft can add to the total cost for sure, but not the only cause for price differences. 

21 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Because military helicopters have a lot more dedicated and specialist equipment that is fitted after the basic airframe is bought. Different radar, plating, rocket pods, gun control systems, anti-missile flare launchers, military radio systems bla bla bla.

^^

What he said.

29 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

Maybe the ones the military bought work properly?

Hmm,...A post preceding yours stated that of 12 helicopters purchased by the Thai military only 5 still worked !!!

Metal green camouflage paint.

 

Very expensive stuff.

11 minutes ago, asiaexpat said:

First of all for those unfamiliar with military procurement, especially aircraft, the cost per unit normally includes training pilots, spare parts, and technical support. Additionally, military helicopters are built to a completely different standard and configuration than civil models with the same basic model designation. Graft can add to the total cost for sure, but not the only cause for price differences. 

Yep. Civvy jobs you get a choice of colour, types of seat and comms for passengers. Maybe a bit extra soundproofing.

No fragment proof plating around the power unit etc etc, unless you're James Bond. ????

Edited November 1, 20187 yr by overherebc

8 minutes ago, asiaexpat said:

First of all for those unfamiliar with military procurement, especially aircraft, the cost per unit normally includes training pilots, spare parts, and technical support. Additionally, military helicopters are built to a completely different standard and configuration than civil models with the same basic model designation. Graft can add to the total cost for sure, but not the only cause for price differences. 

Excellent explanation, Thx...The Thai military can copy your answer and go on from there !!!

1 hour ago, Hank Gunn said:

But, but, Thaksin was corrupt...

Wasn't he the master teacher?

18 minutes ago, Denim said:

Metal green camouflage paint.

 

Very expensive stuff.

That's possible if they used the radar-misleading paint like on stealth aircrafts.

Completely different fits for military and civil aircraft avionics and other stuff wise. Military aircraft are inherently more expensive than their civil counterparts.

 

Doesn't stop the uninformed gnashing their teeth and beating their chests though. As pointed out they are two different types of a/c as well

Of course they paid more. That's how those in "power" make money. 

 

I guess the joke is on them since there's only one problem with theft. Karma comes calling. 

Defense Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said there is a difference between civilian and military models of the helicopters, hence the gap in price.

36 minutes ago, sweatalot said:

Wasn't he the master teacher?

No, he just stood out because he was an outsider relative to the "old guard"/established elite in Bangkok. Also, while the "power establishment" have used, and continue to use the army to maintain their power, Thaksin, with his police connections, would have cut them out of the pig trough as well.

Import taxes, it's Italian. Tax was collected by ... ermh.

 

1 hour ago, asiaexpat said:

First of all for those unfamiliar with military procurement, especially aircraft, the cost per unit normally includes training pilots, spare parts, and technical support. Additionally, military helicopters are built to a completely different standard and configuration than civil models with the same basic model designation. Graft can add to the total cost for sure, but not the only cause for price differences. 

Three times the price?

 

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

Because military helicopters have a lot more dedicated and specialist equipment that is fitted after the basic airframe is bought. Different radar, plating, rocket pods, gun control systems, anti-missile flare launchers, military radio systems bla bla bla.

But if you read the article it says" A military-outfitted AW139 helicopter, the same model bought by the Thai army, reportedly sold for about 348 million baht apiece in 2013, according to Aviation International News. 

 

So, the question remains, why did they pay 675 million to 737 million baht for each one?