Thais Embark On Native Missile Programme: Jane's

[ThaiGoon]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30031836

Thais embark on native missile programme: Jane's

London - Thailand has decided to develop and produce rockets and missiles in a radical shift towards building an indigenous defence industry, Jane's Defence Weekly reported Thursday.

The specialist publication said the programme would lift Thailand beyond its current capacity for producing explosives, ammunition and small arms under licence as well as modernising and repairing aircraft and armoured vehicles.

The ministry document says funding pressures on the defence budget and encouragement by unspecified sectors for greater self-sufficiency is driving the new programme.

Thailand's King Bhumipol Adulyadej, who enjoys strong support from the armed forces which overthrew the Thai government in a bloodless coup last September, has called for a "sufficiency economy," the weekly said.

[ColPyat]

Thais embark on native missile programme: Jane's

London - Thailand has decided to develop and produce rockets and missiles in a radical shift towards building an indigenous defence industry, Jane's Defence Weekly reported Thursday.

Great, just great. Another SEA arms race begins, just like before the '97 crises.

Soldiers get their expensive toys, another avenue of possible graft is opened, and that in a time of economical difficulties, and budget cuts in elementary civilian programs such as public health services.

[ThaiGoon]

Great, just great. Another SEA arms race begins, just like before the '97 crises.

Soldiers get their expensive toys, another avenue of possible graft is opened, and that in a time of economical difficulties, and budget cuts in elementary civilian programs such as public health services.

Yeah, that's one way to look at it. Another way is that this could potentially save Thailand millions of dollars in the future from keeping importing (and depending on) foreign techonology and in turn could use the money in other civilian programs.

Another reason that I posted this was to show that Thai engineers aren't as incompetent as some ignorant people on here have said.

Edited April 14, 2007 by ThaiGoon

[ColPyat]

Another reason that I posted this was to show that Thai engineers aren't as incompetent as some ignorant people have said on here.

Well, there you won't get any argument from me.

This is not anymore 50 years ago - nowadays plenty of Thais study/have studied all over the world, and are as capable as anybody else who had the opportunity to study in a good university. I guess you are presently one of those.

But you won't get any applause from me for any sort of arms research, or raise of defense budgets, anywhere, neither in Thailand, nor in the west.

[taxexile]

Another reason that I posted this was to show that Thai engineers aren't as incompetent as some ignorant people on here have said.

how anybody could even think such a thing is beyond me.

[bkkandrew]

Great, just great. Another SEA arms race begins, just like before the '97 crises.

Soldiers get their expensive toys, another avenue of possible graft is opened, and that in a time of economical difficulties, and budget cuts in elementary civilian programs such as public health services.

Yeah, that's one way to look at it. Another way is that this could potentially save Thailand millions of dollars in the future from keeping importing (and depending on) foreign techonology and in turn could use the money in other civilian programs.

Another reason that I posted this was to show that Thai engineers aren't as incompetent as some ignorant people on here have said.

Well - before such rash statements, I would wait and see. The record is not good, with corruption and incompetance leading to the most basic products and projects sink ignominiously into farce..

The only worry is that we are not talking about poorly constucted inanimate objects here, rather missiles. I do hope to be out of the region at test-firing stage, as the suspicion is that the damn3d thing could go anywhere!!

Edited April 14, 2007 by bkkandrew

[oooooo]

well maybe the thais will try to destroy the shingapore satellites.

[ThaiGoon]

But you won't get any applause from me for any sort of arms research, or raise of defense budgets, anywhere, neither in Thailand, nor in the west.

All right. Fair enough.

[cdnvic]

They can use know-how from the alleged space program they talked about a couple years back.

[Thai-Spy]

Great, just great. Another SEA arms race begins, just like before the '97 crises.

Soldiers get their expensive toys, another avenue of possible graft is opened, and that in a time of economical difficulties, and budget cuts in elementary civilian programs such as public health services.

Yeah, that's one way to look at it. Another way is that this could potentially save Thailand millions of dollars in the future from keeping importing (and depending on) foreign techonology and in turn could use the money in other civilian programs.

Another reason that I posted this was to show that Thai engineers aren't as incompetent as some ignorant people on here have said.

Given the scale of Thailand's defense requirements they'll have real trouble producing enough units for domestic consumption to offset development costs. The only way this becomes profitable is by exporting in significant quantities.

That being the case, it is the marketplace which will decide on Thai engineering competence; and even that hinges to some degree on whether they pursue original designs or simply copy/steal from other extant weapons systems.

And there is of course the irony of a country seeking to position itself as a weapons developer and exporter at the same it discusses enshrining Buddhism in its constitution as the official state religion...

[ThaiGoon]

And there is of course the irony of a country seeking to position itself as a weapons developer and exporter at the same it discusses enshrining Buddhism in its constitution as the official state religion...

Don't forgot those countries who supposedly believe in "turning the other cheek" and "loving their neighbor as themselves" as well. There's no irony in their practices whatsoever.

Edited April 14, 2007 by ThaiGoon

[Robski]

If Thailand wants to become a first world nation on a par with the US and Britain, it needs a well developed military-industrial complex that can redirect well needed money from education and healthcare into high cost projects such as missiles, securing a handful of high tech jobs.

Although it is highly likely that they will never get used and will need replacing every decade, it will ensure the rich elite and politicians maintain their position, all in the name of national interest.

Well done Thailand, you are showing the world how well you can adapt to western ideas.

[Heng]

Nothing like the perks of a military run gov't.

[ThaiGoon]

Nothing like the perks of a military run gov't.

If you read the original article, you will find that the program had been approved before the coup.

[ColPyat]

And there is of course the irony of a country seeking to position itself as a weapons developer and exporter at the same it discusses enshrining Buddhism in its constitution as the official state religion...

Don't forgot those countries who supposedly believe in "turning the other cheek" and "loving their neighbor as themselves" as well.

Same hypocrisy.

We may not have Christianity as state religion, or discussing it, but when openly Christian leaders wage wars, then there is something slightly wrong. That doesn't mean though that because they are hypocrites - everybody should have a free pass to be one either.

[bkkandrew]

Nothing like the perks of a military run gov't.

If you read the original article, you will find that the program had been approved before the coup.

Which one?

[ThaiGoon]

ColPyat, I didn't say it was right. I was just suggesting Thai-Spy to look at (or clean up) his own backyard before he does ours. By the way, I hope the necessity for any country to defend herself is not lost on here, and actually well understood.

[taxexile]

Thailand has decided to develop and produce rockets and missiles in a radical shift towards building an indigenous defence industry,

rockets and missiles ? defence against who exactly ? laos , cambodia , burma ?

those countries are not exactly highly tooled up are they ?

[Thai-Spy]

And there is of course the irony of a country seeking to position itself as a weapons developer and exporter at the same it discusses enshrining Buddhism in its constitution as the official state religion...

Don't forgot those countries who supposedly believe in "turning the other cheek" and "loving their neighbor as themselves" as well. There's no irony in their practices whatsoever.

You mean those horrible countries that have enshrined separation of church and state in their constitutions? The ones that don't leave religious minorities to die by crushing suffocation by the dozens in the backs of military vehicles?

We could play this game all day, but it would be much more interesting to hear your thoughts on the implications of the armaments development initiative to the Thai economy and regional security.

[PhilHarries]

As has been said, to develope and produce a home grown missile system for purely domestic use is economic nonsense and to step out into the export market they would be in competition with the big US, European, Russian and Chinese players to name but a few.

Probably their best option is to start off with a licence agreement with one of the big boys, if such a deal is possible in these times of paranoia, to produce and market the items in this region.

But how many missiles does Thailand use per year or, more importantly, who do they envisage going to war with?

With more pressing needs it is for sure a crazy scheme but then we all remember when Thailand just had to be the first S. E. Asian nation with an aircraft carrier.

[jayjayjayjay]

Great, just great. Another SEA arms race begins, just like before the '97 crises.

Soldiers get their expensive toys, another avenue of possible graft is opened, and that in a time of economical difficulties, and budget cuts in elementary civilian programs such as public health services.

Yeah, that's one way to look at it. Another way is that this could potentially save Thailand millions of dollars in the future from keeping importing (and depending on) foreign techonology and in turn could use the money in other civilian programs.

Another reason that I posted this was to show that Thai engineers aren't as incompetent as some ignorant people on here have said.

Thaigoon, and so what Thai company are you contributing too?

[Thai-Spy]

Thailand has decided to develop and produce rockets and missiles in a radical shift towards building an indigenous defence industry,

rockets and missiles ? defence against who exactly ? laos , cambodia , burma ?

those countries are not exactly highly tooled up are they ?

In a word, Malaysia, at least in terms of a missile capability which likely includes both air- and ground-launched systems. Rockets covers a much wider range of applications, especially for ground war against a relatively low-tech opponent.

[ThaiGoon]

You mean those horrible countries that have enshrined separation of church and state in their constitutions? The ones that don't leave religious minorities to die by crushing suffocation by the dozens in the backs of military vehicles?

We could play this game all day, but it would be much more interesting to hear your thoughts on the implications of the armaments development initiative to the Thai economy and regional security.

Errr Buddhism has been "enshrined" in the new constituion as the official state religion already? Or you just wanted to cry wolf and try to pretend there's another thing for you to whine about?

And yeah, Thailand developing their own shortrange missiles will tip the balance of power in this region forever. It will be a totally new landscape because of this. Everyone else in the region must be ordering and stockpiling their nuclear missiles right now.

[ThaiGoon]

As has been said, to develope and produce a home grown missile system for purely domestic use is economic nonsense and to step out into the export market they would be in competition with the big US, European, Russian and Chinese players to name but a few.

Probably their best option is to start off with a licence agreement with one of the big boys, if such a deal is possible in these times of paranoia, to produce and market the items in this region.

But how many missiles does Thailand use per year or, more importantly, who do they envisage going to war with?

With more pressing needs it is for sure a crazy scheme but then we all remember when Thailand just had to be the first S. E. Asian nation with an aircraft carrier.

Yeah, why develop our own technology when we can be forever dependent on foreign technology? Why develop anything of our own? Really doesn't make sense.

Edited April 14, 2007 by ThaiGoon

[bkkandrew]

As has been said, to develope and produce a home grown missile system for purely domestic use is economic nonsense and to step out into the export market they would be in competition with the big US, European, Russian and Chinese players to name but a few.

Probably their best option is to start off with a licence agreement with one of the big boys, if such a deal is possible in these times of paranoia, to produce and market the items in this region.

But how many missiles does Thailand use per year or, more importantly, who do they envisage going to war with?

With more pressing needs it is for sure a crazy scheme but then we all remember when Thailand just had to be the first S. E. Asian nation with an aircraft carrier.

Yeah, why develop our own technology when we can be forever dependent on foreign technology? Why develop anything of our own? Really doesn't make sense.

I look forward (on your logic) to Thai re-inventions of cars, computers and even the wheel, just to break out from being under the yoke of nasty foreign technology

[Clipped]

there was a thai engineer on the team that sent the first american to the moon...

i dont see why people have to bash on thai engineering and products, as thai goods are exported worldwide...probably just a few cases of ethnocentrism.

as far as copying products for development, any development of any new product involves studying existing designs...the base for reference standards are constanty changing....any company that doesnt do reverse engineering are the ones that will fall behind.

[ThaiGoon]

I look forward (on your logic) to Thai re-inventions of cars, computers and even the wheel, just to break out from being under the yoke of nasty foreign technology

You can ask any Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese or even Malaysian about that. To be honest, I myself don't wanna waste time educating someone myopic.

[cdnvic]

Thailand will be playing an expensive game of catch up with any opponent supplied most likely with Russian or US systems that have a long linage and strong technological support.

Thailand would be far better served putting it's engineering resources into areas where it does have some legitimate experience with like irrigation, and also improvement in areas where it needs it most such as pollution control and environmental management.

Edited April 14, 2007 by cdnvic

[ThaiGoon]

there was a thai engineer on the team that sent the first american to the moon...

i dont see why people have to bash on thai engineering and products, as thai goods are exported worldwide...probably just a few cases of ethnocentrism.

as far as copying products for development, any development of any new product involves studying existing designs...the base for reference standards are constanty changing....any company that doesnt do reverse engineering are the ones that will fall behind.

[chownah]

Missiles are worthless against insurgents. Are they going to use the missles to solve the southern insurgent problem?

Thailand has some good engineers.....too bad neither of them worked on the new airport.