US to sell military helicopters to Thailand

[webfact]

US to sell military helicopters to Thailand

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2013 (AFP) - The United States plans to sell six Lakota military helicopters to Thailand worth an estimated $77 million, Pentagon officials said Friday.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which handles US arms sales abroad, notified Congress that the Thai government had made a request to purchase the UH-72A helicopters.

The Lakota aircraft are typically used by the US National Guard for emergency response missions and border security.

The sale could clear the way for larger arms deals, as the United States seeks to shift its strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region and as American defense firms look to take advantage of increased military spending among Asian countries.

"Thailand is a valued defense ally of the United States," said Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Wilkinson, confirming the planned sale.

The deal comes after former defense secretary Leon Panetta signed a joint "vision" statement with his counterpart in Thailand, with both countries vowing to renew longstanding military ties that date back to the 1950s.
Aerospace giant EADS North America was named as the main contractor for the deal.

"This proposed sale will contribute to Thailand's goal to upgrade and modernize its military forces with a new light utility helicopter capable of meeting requirements for rotary-wing transportation, while further enhancing greater interoperability between Thailand the US, and among other allies," the defense cooperation agency said in a statement.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-06-22

[David48]

For those interested in what they look like ...

I just hope to hell that they maintain them better then those which have crashed in the past.

.

[arthurboy]

The trough is set, the usual suspects are lining up, the starting flag has been raised...

Let the fun begin.

[Thai at Heart]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

[David48]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Well, brand new ... "Current Price $ 7.76 million U.S. Estimated"

So, 2nd hand, low engine hours, well maintained ... maybe $ 5 million (let's be generous).

So, 6 X 5 = $ 30 Million.

Maybe they are buying a lot of spares ...

.

[OzMick]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Unit cost US$5.9 million (flyaway cost,) from Wiki. But I would expect they come as a package with spares, etc.

[jalansanitwong]

Its a certainty a number of generals are retiring soon so theyre getting the standard 30 % .

More rich kids ordering Ferraris and Bentleys later this year no doubt.

[oceanview]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Well, brand new ... "Current Price $ 7.76 million U.S. Estimated"

So, 2nd hand, low engine hours, well maintained ... maybe $ 5 million (let's be generous).

So, 6 X 5 = $ 30 Million.

Maybe they are buying a lot of spares ...

.

Where did you read they are used helicopters?

Factoring in the necessary additional training, spare parts, maintenance equipment inherent with a new aircraft, the cost does per chopper doesn't appear to be all that extravagant.

[kurnell]

What do the Thai anti-corruption commission do all day?

[lovetotravel]

What do the Thai anti-corruption commission do all day?

Receive brown envelopes...

[OzMick]

Hopefully, they will be capable of flying at night.

[IMA_FARANG]

Hopefully, they will be capable of flying at night.

--------------

The helicopters being talked about are used by the U.S. military for search and rescue missions.

Including bad weather search and rescue missions.

They not only are capable of flying at "night" but in very bad weather conditions as you might expect would be the case in rescue missions during storms.

Now, on the other hand, that presumes PILOTS that are trained and qualified for such flights.

In Thailand I wouldn't worry about the helicopters, but I might worry about the pilots and more precisely the maintenance technicians for those helicopters.

Ask a helicopter pilot what the so-called "Jesus Nut" on a chopper is.

The joke is when it fails it's, "Hello, Jesus" time.,

P.S. That doesn't mean the Prime Minister will fly in one of them.

Edited June 22, 2013 by IMA_FARANG

[kurnell]

What do the Thai anti-corruption commission do all day?

Receive brown envelopes...

Then who is keeping an eye on them?

[marell]

Hopefully, they will be capable of flying at night.

--------------

The helicopters being talked about are used by the U.S. military for search and rescue missions.

Including bad weather search and rescue missions.

They not only are capable of flying at "night" but in very bad weather conditions as you might expect would be the case in rescue missions during storms.

Now, on the other hand, that presumes PILOTS that are trained and qualified for such flights.

In Thailand I wouldn't worry about the helicopters, but I might worry about the pilots and more precisely the maintenance technicians for those helicopters.

Ask a helicopter pilot what the so-called "Jesus Nut" on a chopper is.

The joke is when it fails it's, "Hello, Jesus" time.,

P.S. That doesn't mean the Prime Minister will fly in one of them.

Agree. You nailed it.

[EyesWideOpen]

So Thailand has had second thoughts about buying crappy Chinese military equipment ?? :-)

[Pikeybkk]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Well, brand new ... "Current Price $ 7.76 million U.S. Estimated"

So, 2nd hand, low engine hours, well maintained ... maybe $ 5 million (let's be generous).

So, 6 X 5 = $ 30 Million.

Maybe they are buying a lot of spares ...

.

import tax.....lol

[lovetotravel]

What do the Thai anti-corruption commission do all day?

Receive brown envelopes...

Then who is keeping an eye on them?

More people who receive brown envelopes....

[oops]

The fact is, it really doesn't matter how much they cost. Thailand's not paying for the Americans are. We given so much

money to this welfare state that the monies being used is nothing more than the American Tax payers sweat and if they live here," Blood" in some cases

[Spalpeen]

So Thailand has had second thoughts about buying crappy Chinese military equipment ?? :-)

Unlike the USA which imports trillions of dollars worth of 'crappy' Chinese goods every year.

[EyesWideOpen]

The fact is, it really doesn't matter how much they cost. Thailand's not paying for the Americans are. We given so much

money to this welfare state that the monies being used is nothing more than the American Tax payers sweat and if they live here," Blood" in some cases

<deleted> ??? The article clearly says this transaction is a sale. The USA is broke, it cannot afford to give away helicopters to third world countries....

[EyesWideOpen]

So Thailand has had second thoughts about buying crappy Chinese military equipment ?? :-)

Unlike the USA which imports trillions of dollars worth of 'crappy' Chinese goods every year.

Hard to equate military hardware which is used to protect your country, with a crappy Chinese tool that breaks the first time you use it. But go ahead and try... :-)

[drdoom6996]

Are they sending pilots too? These guys can't even keep up a balloon.

[Payboy]

Who said that crash landing the other day wasn't useful?

[Spalpeen]

So Thailand has had second thoughts about buying crappy Chinese military equipment ?? :-)

Unlike the USA which imports trillions of dollars worth of 'crappy' Chinese goods every year.

Hard to equate military hardware which is used to protect your country, with a crappy Chinese tool that breaks the first time you use it. But go ahead and try... :-)

Personally I'd think twice about buying military hardware from a country that hasn't won a war in more than 60 years.

[ronrat]

So Thailand has had second thoughts about buying crappy Chinese military equipment ?? :-)

Unlike the USA which imports trillions of dollars worth of 'crappy' Chinese goods every year.

Hard to equate military hardware which is used to protect your country, with a crappy Chinese tool that breaks the first time you use it. But go ahead and try... :-)

Personally I'd think twice about buying military hardware from a country that hasn't won a war in more than 60 years.

They whooped Grenada

[winstonc]

so now they wont be downgrading thailand for the human trafficing then,,,,mmmmmm or correct me if im wrong thanks,,

[how241]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Well, brand new ... "Current Price $ 7.76 million U.S. Estimated"

So, 2nd hand, low engine hours, well maintained ... maybe $ 5 million (let's be generous).

So, 6 X 5 = $ 30 Million.

Maybe they are buying a lot of spares ...

.

Where did you read they are used helicopters?

Factoring in the necessary additional training, spare parts, maintenance equipment inherent with a new aircraft, the cost does per chopper doesn't appear to be all that extravagant.

+1

[55Jay]

So Thailand has had second thoughts about buying crappy Chinese military equipment ?? :-)

Unlike the USA which imports trillions of dollars worth of 'crappy' Chinese goods every year.

Hard to equate military hardware which is used to protect your country, with a crappy Chinese tool that breaks the first time you use it. But go ahead and try... :-)

Personally I'd think twice about buying military hardware from a country that hasn't won a war in more than 60 years.

That criteria sure does limit the shopping options.

[Thai at Heart]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Well, brand new ... "Current Price $ 7.76 million U.S. Estimated"

So, 2nd hand, low engine hours, well maintained ... maybe $ 5 million (let's be generous).

So, 6 X 5 = $ 30 Million.

Maybe they are buying a lot of spares ...

.

import tax.....lol

Well please don't import them in bits and reassemble them to get round the tax.

I think the pilots might go on strike if they did that.

[Halion]

Do they really cost that much per aircraft?

Well, brand new ... "Current Price $ 7.76 million U.S. Estimated"

So, 2nd hand, low engine hours, well maintained ... maybe $ 5 million (let's be generous).

So, 6 X 5 = $ 30 Million.

Maybe they are buying a lot of spares ...

.

Where did you read they are used helicopters?

Factoring in the necessary additional training, spare parts, maintenance equipment inherent with a new aircraft, the cost does per chopper doesn't appear to be all that extravagant.

Nonesense, As with all such deals it appears superficially to be most exhorbitant. Furthermore with orders of this nature the training comes as an insentive within the initial costs as does a rudementary spares and service package.

6 x helicopters at say 6.Million $ =36 million $ Balance = 41, $ or 6.8 million per unit for parts. !!

However, if we take the statutory 30% kickback for those in priveledged positions then the net is reduced to 54 million $ which would seem more acceptable for six of these machines along with support kit, which the Thais will turn into ariel coffins within a year or two owing to lack of preventive maintainance or lack of spare parts or simply just flying into a side of a mountain with their transponders switched off or missing.