Thai PM’s new weapons procurement plan to boost national economy

[webfact]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is moving forward with plans to overhaul Thailand’s armed forces, beginning with a significant shift in weapons procurement procedures, a military source has confirmed.

 

The new leader had a meeting with the heads of the armed forces last week, where they discussed the new government’s intended course of action concerning military and security matters. During this meeting, the defence minister’s role was assumed by Sutin Klungsang, a civilian and deputy leader of the Pheu Thai party.

 

Sutin has sought guidance from Gen Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya, the former defence minister, regarding his new role and plans to consult with other previous defence ministers as well.

Srettha reassured military leaders that the Pheu Thai-led government harbours no intentions to undermine them, acknowledging their crucial role in national defence.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of Prachachat

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/politics/thai-pms-new-weapons-procurement-plan-to-boost-national-economy

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-04

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[smedly]

maybe you should address the increasing cost of living - electricity bills etc before buying weapons - but hey I guess that was part of the sellout deal

[retarius]

There is a disconnect here. How is buying weapons from abroad going to help GDP growth. I'm not aware of any major weapons manufacturers here in Thailand (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). GET rid of conscription first. Ruining young men's lives and using them as slaves for generals is bad news.

[scorecard]

6 minutes ago, retarius said:

There is a disconnect here. How is buying weapons from abroad going to help GDP growth. I'm not aware of any major weapons manufacturers here in Thailand (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). GET rid of conscription first. Ruining young men's lives and using them as slaves for generals is bad news.

And if that upsets the generals so be it / bad luck. Show them who the boss is - the elected government. 

And get on with downsizing the army and cancelling say 200 more 'sleeping' generals and colonels.

 

Start a new model, no conscription, a small intelligent well trained well paid Army with modern equipment. Again if that upsets the generals so be it / bad luck. Show them who the boss is - the elected government. 

[ikke1959]

fire 75% of the generals is a good start.. close several military bases, as in many only a few few soldiers are in the camp.. It could save a lot of money too.. 

[2baht]

50 minutes ago, smedly said:

maybe you should address the increasing cost of living - electricity bills etc before buying weapons - but hey I guess that was part of the sellout deal

There is no external threats so I guess the only threats are within! Protect the rich! ????

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Sutin has sought guidance from Gen Thammarak Isarangkura na Ayudhaya, the former defence minister, regarding his new role and plans to consult with other previous defence ministers as well.

So he has no idea of how to perform the job himself?

[2baht]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

So he has no idea of how to perform the job himself?

I think they know exactly what their role is, what is expected of them!  

[sammieuk1]

Suggest buying back all of the weapons held by the Buddhist public for starters ????

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai-led government harbours no intentions to undermine them, acknowledging their crucial role in national defence.

The RTM is not a sovereign entity. It is supposedly ("on paper") a branch of Thai government to serve the Thai People.

Should not then a priority of National Defence be to PROTECT the sovereignty of the Thai People and not the repeated illegal extra-constitutionality that since 1932 has been exercised by the RTM?

It seems for the sake of saving its deteriorating power, the PTP now as a minority party has UNDERMINED the public majority's best interests that had been reflected in part by the MFP. And in effect the PTP has committed a political coup.

[sungod]

"Chickens for fighter jets'

[Enoon]

2 hours ago, retarius said:

There is a disconnect here. How is buying weapons from abroad going to help GDP growth. I'm not aware of any major weapons manufacturers here in Thailand (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). GET rid of conscription first. Ruining young men's lives and using them as slaves for generals is bad news.

These will give you an idea of what is made in Thailand:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Royal_Thai_Army

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Royal_Thai_Navy

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Royal_Thai_Air_Force

 

 

 

 

[mfd101]

Just calming the boys as PM & new Minister ease themselves in to their new chairs. Perfectly sensible.

 

It's what they will do that counts, not what soothing words they offer in the meantime.

[mikebell]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Srettha reassured military leaders that the Pheu Thai-led government harbours no intentions to undermine them, acknowledging their crucial role in

fixing the election results.

[spidermike007]

There is little doubt the "do nothing generals" will get exactly what they want. Alot of costly new toys, that have very little usefulness in the real world. The population of Thailand is their largest threat. The army has become increasingly toxic, greedy and useless. Their power needs to be curtailed. 

[2baht]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The army has become increasingly toxic, greedy and useless.

They are the tool of the rich!

[mfd101]

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There is little doubt the "do nothing generals" will get exactly what they want.

We shall see.

[MrMojoRisin]

This, Pheu Thai and the military, is a marriage of convenience that simply cannot last.

 

The upside though, is that every minute this nonsense continues it only increases the vote for Move Forward.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

These will give you an idea of what is made in Thailand:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Royal_Thai_Army

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Royal_Thai_Navy

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Royal_Thai_Air_Force

 

 

 

 

An astonishing variety! They have 6 completely different models of 155mm howitzer, 4 different models of 105mm howitzer, it must be a logistical nightmare!

 

7 different types of pistol in 3 different calibres, 13 different types of infantry rifle. Their "metal Mickeys" ( small arms instructors) must be permanently confused!

 

5 different types of Main Battle Tanks...

 

And now we hear of a major new weapons procurement programme, lots more new ( no doubt different) kit - remarkable!

Edited September 4, 2023 by herfiehandbag

[mfd101]

12 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

An astonishing variety! They have 6 completely different models of 155mm howitzer, 4 different models of 105mm howitzer, it must be a logistical nightmare!

 

7 different types of pistol in 3 different calibres, 13 different types of infantry rifle. Their "metal Mickeys" ( small arms instructors) must be permanently confused!

 

5 different types of Main Battle Tanks...

 

And now we hear of a major new weapons procurement programme, lots more new ( no doubt different) kit - remarkable!

It's called: Spreading the risk. ????

[statman78]

4 hours ago, retarius said:

There is a disconnect here. How is buying weapons from abroad going to help GDP growth. I'm not aware of any major weapons manufacturers here in Thailand (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). GET rid of conscription first. Ruining young men's lives and using them as slaves for generals is bad news.

The full article has more details.  If Thailand buys weapons from another country then that country will be required to import Thai goods.  The example given shows that the other country must commit to import goods in excess of the value of the arms purchase.  That is how it can help the thai economy.

[BenStark]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is moving forward

This play of words should be avoided whenever mentioning this traitor

[Gottfrid]

That will make him popular!

[Pib]

 

Quote

 

“Any weapons procurement plan will have to be accompanied by a deal to import products from Thailand.”

For instance, a plan to acquire new weapons worth 80 billion baht would need to be partnered with a contract to import agricultural and other products from Thailand, totalling a value of 100 to 200 billion baht.

Thus, the armed forces would need to liaise with the Ministry of Commerce regarding such trade agreements, to ensure the country benefits broadly from any new weapons procurement plans

 

 

This policy should fly like a lead balloon.  Hey country XYZ I want to buy 100 billion baht worth of planes, ships, and tanks from you but before that can occur you must agree to buy 200 billion baht of stuff from me like durians, rice, etc.   Sound like a fair deal (Thai style)?

[scorecard]

6 hours ago, 2baht said:

There is no external threats so I guess the only threats are within! Protect the rich! ????

But sleeping generals cost money, big money over a year. And a smaller smarter army would reduce costs.

 

More money to support welfare ativities.

[2baht]

Just now, scorecard said:

But sleeping generals cost money, big money over a year. And a smaller smarter army would reduce costs.

 

More money to support welfare ativities.

You mean like act humanely??? I dont think they will, they are too greedy!

[Mavideol]

now I start to understand why Xi wants to meet with him.... submarines, fighter jets......555

[Kevin Taylor]

So this is the cost of getting the military senators on board to form a government. Now they want their toys.

[KanchanaburiGuy]

Well now......

 

All in all, it seems like a sensible approach. After all Trade is always supposed to be Value for Value. In this case, it's being suggested that it work on two levels, not just one:

 

• We give you money for goods, and you give us money for goods.

 

• We promise to give you a certain level of purchases, and you promise give us a certain level of purchases, in exchange.

 

And it may seem the suggested numbers are unbalanced, but we have to remember.........

 

We'd be buying things from them that have a very narrow focus, while they'd be buying things from us that have a broad, more universal, population-wide focus and appeal. Our acquisitions from them go into only a few hands. Their acquisitions from us can go into many, many hands!

 

And the idea of additional procurement doesn't upset me too much, if the procurement is done for the right reasons.

 

For example, it was noted upthread that there many different types, styles, and brands of weapons currently being used. If the proposed "procurement" was intended to phase out the confusion and disparity and supply the military with a narrower range of more universally adaptable weaponry........ that would be a good thing! (Imagine: A continuing soldier needs to re-arm himself from a fallen soldier, but finds, "Damn, he got entirely different weaponry!" NOT GOOD! That would be something worth fixing!)

 

So, new procurement isn't NECESSARILY a bad thing!

 

(Then, all that phased-out, unnecessarily confusing weaponry could be sold on the second-hand marketplace, recouping some of the new-procurement investment, making the exchange not just a win-win, but a win-win-win!)

 

* * * * *

 

Yes, I understand both the opportunity for..... and history of..... corruption. (WHO gets to sell the phased-out weapons, for example? Who get the money and/or the "commission?")

 

But those are reason to try to force them to do things "correctly," above-board, and transparently........ NOT reasons to not do them!

 

Sorry, for all the snide comments made upthread, the fact is, if this is done in the right way for the right reasons......... it's actually a very good idea!

 

Sorry, but with tensions increasing between the United States and China, and China pushing out tentacles into both shipping lanes and land routes.......... (and eyeing Taiwan with renewed glee!)........ Thailand improving it's readiness, preparedness, and capabilities....... is a sound and sensible measure!

 

Remember:

 

It takes two to make peace, but only one to make war!

 

So even if Thailand wants to try to stay neutral......... she still must be able to ENFORCE her neutrality!

 

Any less? Well..... you're just asking her to become the new France and Poland from WW2! (Which is to say: Easily overrun!) 

 

• New procurement? Yes. If it's done the right way and for the right reasons.

 

• Using New Procurement as a win-win (win-win-win?) way to boost exports and increase economic activity? Sorry, but for all the cynicism being expressed....... (some, of course, justified!)......it really IS a good idea!

 

Cheers!

 

 

Edited September 4, 2023 by KanchanaburiGuy

[PETERTHEEATER]

3 hours ago, Pib said:

 

 

This policy should fly like a lead balloon.  Hey country XYZ I want to buy 100 billion baht worth of planes, ships, and tanks from you but before that can occur you must agree to buy 200 billion baht of stuff from me like durians, rice, etc.   Sound like a fair deal (Thai style)?

Mentioning lead balloons, how is the repair of military aerostat for surveillance use in the south coming on?