Thailand military upgrade: Defense Ministry responds to emerging threats

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s Defence Ministry is gearing up to bolster the country’s armed forces, aiming for a technologically superior edge to counter emerging security threats.

 

Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang highlighted the Thailand military upgrade commitment during his address to the incoming batch of the National Defence Course at the National Defence College yesterday.

 

Sutin conceded his previous misunderstanding regarding military expenditure, stressing that funding should reflect both the requirements of the armed forces and the defence challenges presented by foreign nations.

 

“If they own submarines or F-16 fighter jets, we must have something of comparable capability to counter them. It’s about assessing a competitor’s prowess as a factor for allocating the right budget.”

 

Sutin highlighted the importance of the Thailand military upgrade with advancing defence technology while maintaining its relevance and connection with the public. He emphasised the necessity to modernise and streamline the military for optimal functionality.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo: asianmilitaryreview.com

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-10

 

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[herfiehandbag]

So you have bought a submarine without an engine, and broken half your F16s!

[lordgrinz]

The Submarines would end up like the Aircraft Carrier (HTMS FloatingTrashheap), or the sunken corvette (HTMS BottomOfTheBay).

[2baht]

The only threat is the oppressed peasants rising against the influential and the rich!

[JoePai]

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

[Clarkey611]

57 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

Chinese and Russian Cybersecurity?

[Guderian]

58 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

 

The Government's probably thinking of dastardly threats like the Move Forward party, lol.

[chiman]

Unfortunately ....... and half baked...blah blah blah ... ... etc... blah blah blah ... would last all but a day against... blah blah blah without the support of you know who etc.  

[KhunLA]

'emerging threats' ... 🤣

 

Myanmar, Laos, Nam, Cambo, Malaysia ?

or the local populace 😎

[d2b2]

The biggest emerging threat seems to be not enough toys for all the Thai military generals to play with

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

 

A proper journalist would have asked. But, as Thais are taught not to ask but to listen from the day they begin school, that isn't going to happen. How many times have we seen people on tv surrounded by 'journalists' holding their phones and other recorders, never asking a question of them. Just accept all they are told, like obedient children. Not surprising I suppose, when someone tried asking the  previous PM a question and the PM threatened to have his mouth taped shut.

[shunter]

In truth its all about preparatory moves to become the next  government  regime. new wine old skins...   

[billd766]

2 minutes ago, shunter said:

In truth its all about preparatory moves to become the next  government  regime. new wine old skins...   

Very old wine skins and the wine inside is sour.

[kimamey]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

So you have bought a submarine without an engine, and broken half your F16s!

 

I can source some oars if it helps. Are they ok for rowlocks?

[kimamey]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

 

Well the army are experienced in protest management, and maybe they're expecting flooding

[kimamey]

29 minutes ago, d2b2 said:

The biggest emerging threat seems to be not enough toys for all the Thai military generals to play with

 

Those guys are going to kick themselves when they find out submarines go underwater

[animatic]

Let's not ever forget that

Military Blimp that was expected to

secure the southern boarder.

 

And those electronic wand probes

to snofc out explosives and yaba!!’

 

Sink me!  But what boondoggles

Edited November 10, 2023 by animatic

[soalbundy]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

The Submarines would end up like the Aircraft Carrier (HTMS FloatingTrashheap), or the sunken corvette (HTMS BottomOfTheBay).

but the brown envelopes have arrived at their destination, they can often reveal a prior misunderstanding regarding the military's needs.

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Sutin conceded his previous misunderstanding regarding military expenditure

he was adjusted and clarified after receiving his talking-to

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

The Submarines would end up like the Aircraft Carrier (HTMS FloatingTrashheap), or the sunken corvette (HTMS BottomOfTheBay).

Oh I say, that is unkind, the aircraft carrier can be used as a helicopter carrier.

 

Or it could be if all the helicopters hadn't been fitted with comfy seats and were fully committed to ferrying

Admirals around!

 

A few years ago the best hotel in Chiang Rai was block booked for a week by the Royal Thai Navy. Helicopters buzzing in and out, VIP van convoys all over the place, Military Policemen hanging from the trees and scratching themselves (ex UK military personnel will understand the allusion). I used to take my daughter there to swim, and have afternoon tea as a treat! The foyer was awash with Admirals in starched white uniforms looking like extras from "An Officer and A Gentleman"!

 

Chiang Rai is about as far from the sea as you can get in Thailand.

[herfiehandbag]

1 minute ago, herfiehandbag said:

Military Policemen hanging from the trees and scratching themselves (ex UK military personnel will understand the allusion). 

 

I will help out - The Royal Military Police are known throughout the army as "monkeys"

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

The Sub might be coming to stop Laos attacking us. Phew I feel so much safer now.

[Purdey]

It would be helpful to understand who are the military threats he is talking about. Honestly, it looks like the southern insurgency is the biggest issue and tanks, submarines and F16s have yet to be used to solve that problem, and never will. The fact that Malaysia allows insurgents to hide in its territory doesn't mean it will declare war any time soon.

[CANSIAM]

Continuous unelected Leadership is your threat here, nothing external.........

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

So you have bought a submarine without an engine, and broken half your F16s!

And most of the armed forces are conscripted.

[AhFarangJa]

6 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And most of the armed forces are conscripted.

And those that are not are all Generals.

[spidermike007]

This is likely just the speech that they've rehearse for the most naive amongst the population. Everybody knows that the greatest threats that exist here come from within the nation from the population, that's the greatest threat to the excessive power the army enjoys. Frigates won't help with that. The 2nd greatest threat? China, of course. Frigates won't help with that either. 

 

Who else is a great threat to Thailand?

Malaysia?

Singapore?

Cambodia?

Laos? 

Vietnam?

The PI? 

Please guys. Listen to yourselves. 

 

This is just about boys with gargantuan egos, and the status of a high ranking officer, and huge budgets that the people have allowed them, wanting something new and shiny, that they can talk about over 30,000 baht champagne dinners, at Michelin starred restaurants in Bangkok.

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by spidermike007

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, Clarkey611 said:

Chinese and Russian Cybersecurity?

PM Prayut actually wanted to copy China's cybersecurity system and likely similar to Putin's control of public media freedom of speech.

• "Thailand Set to Build China-like Internet Firewall" September 28, 2015 
• "Thailand: Cyber Crime Act Tightens Internet ControlSweeping Powers to Censor, Stifle Free Speech, Silence Critics"  December 21, 2016

The question to be asked is to what extent the Thailand militaly has become a security threat?

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Sorry I'm a little thick but can I ask what are the "emerging security threats" ?

Answer by 2baht preceding your post 😉

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, herfiehandbag said:

Oh I say, that is unkind, the aircraft carrier can be used as a helicopter carrier.

 

Or it could be if all the helicopters hadn't been fitted with comfy seats and were fully committed to ferrying

Admirals around!

 

A few years ago the best hotel in Chiang Rai was block booked for a week by the Royal Thai Navy. Helicopters buzzing in and out, VIP van convoys all over the place, Military Policemen hanging from the trees and scratching themselves (ex UK military personnel will understand the allusion). I used to take my daughter there to swim, and have afternoon tea as a treat! The foyer was awash with Admirals in starched white uniforms looking like extras from "An Officer and A Gentleman"!

 

Chiang Rai is about as far from the sea as you can get in Thailand.

A very safe location for the Navy brass if any threat does eventuate.