Thai Army purchases missile defence system

[webfact]

DEFENCE
Army purchases missile defence system
Visarut Sankham,
Chutima Inkam
The Nation


The Thai Army has purchased the STARStreak air defence missile system, as seen in this picture, from Thales company.

BANGKOK: -- The Army has purchased a multimillion-dollar missile system from defence company Thales that will be delivered in early 2017.

Mick Oliver, director of business development at Thales, said Thailand has acquired the STARStreak air defence missile system, which operates at a speed of over Mach 3 and is the world's fastest very-short-range air defence system.

Speaking at the Defence and Security 2015 trade fair held in Bangkok this week, he said the contract also included the tripod-based launcher system, which allows the missile to deal with attacks from low-level fighter aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and helicopters.

Oliver said the missile-system contract with the Army was signed by DataGate and Thales, the two companies providing the products and services.

Marie-Laure Bourgeois, vice president of Thales in the South and Southeast Asia region, said STARStreak is the world's leading system of its class, enabling nations to protect assets against both emerging and established threats.

In an exclusive interview with The Nation, she said Thailand is the fourth-largest defence hardware purchaser in Southeast Asia. The top purchaser is Singapore followed by Malaysia and Indonesia. But Thailand has made the most orders in the military sector.

"Purchase orders in Southeast Asia are a bit different from the rest of the world, where 50 per cent of the purchase orders are civilian products and 50 per cent are military products. For Southeast Asia, 70 to 80 per cent of the orders are for military products," she added.

She said about 15 per cent of the region's orders are for aerospace and space, and the remainder for ground transportation.

Since air transportation in the region has risen so much in the last couple years, Thales also sells to the civilian market, which includes transportation, space, telecommunication, satellites and aerospace.

The company manufactures most of the electronic devices found in the cockpits of Airbus planes. It is also one of two companies that provides entertainment equipment for Airbus.

She said Thales provides the air-traffic management systems for Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, which covers all air traffic management in Thailand, including Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Tommy Ayouty, managing director for Thales in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bhutan, said Thailand is its largest military customer, with the Navy as the biggest buyer followed by the Army.

The Defence and Security 2015 fair, which ended yesterday, is the region's leading defence and internal security exhibition. It highlights the latest defence and internal security equipment manufactured by more than 400 companies from 50 countries.

Bourgeois said Thales's business in Southeast Asia has grown by 25 per cent, and up to 80 per cent of all ordering from Southeast Asia is for defence products, while half of the orders in Europe are for defence and the other half from the civilian sector.

Apart from the defence field, the company focuses on four other markets: security, space, aerospace and ground transportation.

The STARStreak missile

Advantages

• Cannot be jammed by infrared countermeasure, radar or radio countermeasures.

• Cannot be stopped by anti-radar missiles.

• Its high speed makes it more likely to hit fast-moving aircraft.

• Three explosive sub-munitions warheads increase probability of hitting target

Disadvantages

• It has no automatic explosive device, so it must collide with the target in order to harm it.

• The guidance laser may be detected after the missile is fired, if the target aircraft is equipped with a suitable passive laser warning system.

• Battlefield obscurants, such as smoke, can decrease the ability to see the target, and could potentially interfere with the guidance laser.

• The performance of missile is laying on the training level of the operator, beaus the have to track the target with sighting unit aim point.

Countries equipped with STARStreak

• United Kingdom

• South Africa

• Thailand

• Indonesia

• Malaysia

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Army-purchases-missile-defence-system-30272367.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-06

[tbthailand]

of those sneaky French... taking advantage of a military junta like that...

Marie-Laure Bourgeois, vice president of Thales in the South and Southeast Asia region, said STARStreak is the world's leading system of its class, enabling nations to protect assets against both emerging and established threats.

Now I believe her, ... but I do wonder just what assets the Thai military wants to protect from "emerging and established" threats...

[Richard W]

of those sneaky French... taking advantage of a military junta like that...

FWIW, Starstreak comes from Belfast.

[Rocceao]

Belfast is a country? don't you mean the United Kingdom?

[fred007]

STARStreak air defence missile system .....Wicks supplied by Captain James T Kirk

[jaidam]

Yep, that makes much more sense than spending on education, healthcare and other cornerstones of a civilized society. On the plus side, at least the incoming submarine fleet will be safe.

[NongKhaiKid]

Every Thai govt tries to keep the military on side with the toys they want, notice I didn't say need, and with a military junta in charge it's so much easier.

Going back over the years with purchases like the aircraft carrier and up to date with the ' must have ' subs it begs the questions of who does LoS think it may have to defend against or who do they plan to attack ?

Edited November 5, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[davehowden]

Disadvantages

• It has no automatic explosive device, so it must collide with the target in order to harm it.

• The guidance laser may be detected after the missile is fired, if the target aircraft is equipped with a suitable passive laser warning system.

• Battlefield obscurants, such as smoke, can decrease the ability to see the target, and could potentially interfere with the guidance laser.

• The performance of missile is laying on the training level of the operator, because they have to track the target with sighting unit aim point.

Breaking news:

Thai Army buys 1000 pairs of assorted eye glasses from China.

Edited November 5, 2015 by davehowden

[selftaopath]

Yet another interesting event is:

Thailand is aiming to design and build military equipment and weapons systems on its own, according to Thai officials. Prawit Wongsuwan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Thailand shared the news at an exhibition on Monday, November 02, 2015. The Thai junta leader has conveyed that the government is bringing in the private sector to help Thailand meet its needs for defence systems and military technology independently.

Thailand Reveals Native Military Equipment

By Brinda Banerjee

[NongKhaiKid]

Yet another interesting event is:

Thailand is aiming to design and build military equipment and weapons systems on its own, according to Thai officials. Prawit Wongsuwan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Thailand shared the news at an exhibition on Monday, November 02, 2015. The Thai junta leader has conveyed that the government is bringing in the private sector to help Thailand meet its needs for defence systems and military technology independently.

Thailand Reveals Native Military Equipment

By Brinda Banerjee

Maybe local development means copying overseas equipment for production here to more exacting Thai standards so ensuring superior performance and reliability.

[EnglishJohn]

Yet another interesting event is:

Thailand is aiming to design and build military equipment and weapons systems on its own, according to Thai officials. Prawit Wongsuwan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Thailand shared the news at an exhibition on Monday, November 02, 2015. The Thai junta leader has conveyed that the government is bringing in the private sector to help Thailand meet its needs for defence systems and military technology independently.

Thailand Reveals Native Military Equipment

By Brinda Banerjee

You mean like this one : http://www.kasama.com/index.php?option=contentpage⊂=27. And now in this article http://www.janes.com/article/54517/thai-firm-kasama-and-lockheed-martin-sign-uav-technology-accord , Kasama say "we currently don't have technologies related to flight control and ground control systems,"

Where did all that money go then ?.

At least if Thailand buys from abroad, it might actually work (unless utterly incompetent officials chance across a conman as in the GT200 bomb detectors).

It works like this : a project gets funding. The main activity of the company is to get as many family members on the payroll in some hired office to syphon off the budget. They never turn up except for visits by government officials.

Meanwhile the cheapest thing possible is built using low grade hobby parts and used as 'demonstrations' of progress to get more funding. This continues until someone finally pulls the plug.

Thailand should forget trying to make high-quality, high-tech things like this themselves until they can sort out their corruption problems. Which of course means never.

[Somtamnication]

Didn't know the red shirts had any missiles to defend from.

[selftaopath]

Yet another interesting event is:

Thailand is aiming to design and build military equipment and weapons systems on its own, according to Thai officials. Prawit Wongsuwan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Thailand shared the news at an exhibition on Monday, November 02, 2015. The Thai junta leader has conveyed that the government is bringing in the private sector to help Thailand meet its needs for defence systems and military technology independently.

Thailand Reveals Native Military Equipment

By Brinda Banerjee

Maybe local development means copying overseas equipment for production here to more exacting Thai standards so ensuring superior performance and reliability.

Probably correct. I don't know what - if anything - Thailand makes w/out other countries doing " the heavy lifting." Thailand offers cheap/unskilled labor, but seems to lack IT, research and development etc..

I really hope Thailand doesn't think nuclear - in any capacity. Hell I can't even get my printer, weed-wacker (brush cutter) fixed properly.

[oneday]

Such a sad waste of money that could better serve the poor people of Thailand.

Once the Navy got their subs, everyone knew the other military departments would want their toys.

[ezzra]

" said Thailand has acquired the STARStreak air defence missile system"

I just hope to god that no one at the missile command will hook up an Xbox to the system

thing he's playing star wars....

And beside, why Thailand need a missile defense systems? how is the enemy here that they

need to protect Thailand from? or is it just the right time to blow several million of

dollars on a useless toys....

[bangkokheat]

thailand wants to be feared

[bangkokheat]

cant even defend itself in the south

[bluebluewater]

I wish 'em luck.

It's damn hard hitting a bullet with a bullet.

[JAG]

Starstreak is by all accounts a " gucci" piece of kit. I understand that to become proficient and remain proficient the operators need to train on, and once trained practice very regularly on a simulator. Hmm, perhaps I see a flaw in the whole business. ..

Edited November 6, 2015 by JAG

[MeHere]

I wonder if the system can track backpacks, angry husbands stomping on their wives' heads, or angry soldiers on Pattaya's Walking Street

[Saan]

I suppose the government has to buy these new toys to keep all those generals happy. One for each general should add up to a pretty sum.

[klauskunkel]

what I am scared of:

Once they have it, they will want to try it out...

[SteveB2]

The Thai military already has FIM-92A Stingers - strange that they should also elect to buy the STARStreak MANPADS as well. There would seam to be little practical advantage of the STARStreak system for potential threats in this theatre that would justify an additional system. One can only guess that somewhere, a General's 'Mia Noi' funds need replenishing

Edited November 6, 2015 by SteveB2

[anon467367354]

that will bring happiness to the people.

We don't need solar energy, water powered cars, non GMO food.

Let's concentrate on hiring more American companies to do what they don't any more like fracking which destroys the water and farms while their at it.

I think this government has overdosed on the fluoride they've been scammed to use.

While other countries are going with clean energy Thailand is just getting dumber. What is going on here?!

[AlQaholic]

"with the Navy as the biggest buyer followed by the Army...."

Why would the navy buy this stuff? They don't have any boats......

Ever since the Navy's failed coup attempt many many years ago they have been on a short budget.

[EnglishJohn]

The Thai military already has FIM-92A Stingers - strange that they should also elect to buy the STARStreak MANPADS as well. There would seam to be little practical advantage of the STARStreak system for potential threats in this theatre that would justify an additional system. One can only guess that somewhere, a General's 'Mia Noi' funds need replenishing

I expect these new missiles are intended to shoot down Chinese UAV's from Thaksin's good friend Hun Sen in Cambodia the next time things kick off.

I trust Cambodia about the same as I trust a Pheu-Thai politician.

ie not at all.

[DLock]

Flying domestic over Thailand just got a whole lot more dangerous...

Seriously, what would buying a handful of these missiles actually accomplish. To be useful, they would need missiles from top to bottom of Thailand in some sort of co-ordinated computer system and round the clock monitoring and surveillance intelligence systems.

And who are they scared of exactly that has missiles to attack Thailand that couldn't wipe them off the face of the Earth if they so wanted?

So, they have 1 aircraft carrier, a handful of missiles, a few subs on order...and can't even stop the internal problems down south.

Fail...can you get your money back?

[Andrew65]

Every Thai govt tries to keep the military on side with the toys they want, notice I didn't say need, and with a military junta in charge it's so much easier.

Going back over the years with purchases like the aircraft carrier and up to date with the ' must have ' subs it begs the questions of who does LoS think it may have to defend against or who do they plan to attack ?

The only difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys!

[Richard W]

And beside, why Thailand need a missile defense systems? how is the enemy here that they

need to protect Thailand from? or is it just the right time to blow several million of

dollars on a useless toys....

It's not a nice thought, but it gives Thailand more option to lose patience with the deep south without the worry that Malaysia might do a Kosovo.

[tuanku]

The biggest threat to Thailand is its own "top" 15% of population. Don't think these missiles will help there.