Lecturer sees benefits to Thai arms industry

[webfact]

Lecturer sees benefits to Thai arms industry
Wasamon Audjarint
The Nation


The interior of the armoured vehicle.

BANGKOK: -- Wanwichit Boonprong, an expert on security affairs from Rangsit University, sees long-term benefits from the military developing the Black Widow Spider armoured personnel vehicle.

"By being able to develop its own tanks, the military can avoid debt from purchasing foreign weapons," he said.

"We may still have to import materials like steel, but being able to build it on our own can help us save creativity costs."

The tanks can also be deployed in military exercises, such as Cobra Gold, to produce officers with greater competency in military technology.

Counterbalance neighbours

Although the country is not at war, weapons development is still needed to counterbalance neighbouring countries' arsenals.

"For instance, Indonesia has produced its own anti-aircraft guns.

"We have to keep up too when our neighbours have improved their weaponry."

Thanks to the Black Widow Spider's advanced features, it can be either outstanding in the international weapons market, or even good enough for barter

trade.

This opportunity can emerge only when Thailand has developed enough technology to compete with Eastern weapons powerhouses such as China.

The Defence Technology Institute (DTI) could be a good nursery to breed scientific talent for the country.

"We don't have a lot of military-supported scientists and researchers. Most of them even end up becoming lecturers," he said.

"Having them working for the DTI could bring out their full potential for practicality."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Lecturer-sees-benefits-to-Thai-arms-industry-30273015.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-16

[davehowden]

Good looking guy, perhaps thinking of buying one for use as his personal transport?

[eliotness]

I wonder how it would cope with an IED ?

[ChrisY1]

If Thailand starts to build these things, then no doubt China will supply the steel.........China usually supplies crap steel for export.!

[saakura]

The bald guy with an enormous belly hanging over his belt, is he Mr.Wanwichit from Rangsit University, the expert on security affairs?

[JAG]

I s it me - or does this APC they are raving about seem to be have rather a high profile - it would make for rather a good target!

Edited November 16, 2015 by JAG

[jonclark]

I think the lecturer might have got his wires crossed.

It cost significant funds to develop a weapons platform, with no actual guarantee that the platform will come in on budget or actually be able to do the job it was designed to do. Look at the F22 Raptor - vastly over budget. So the idea that developing your own weapons is the cheaper option is factually incorrect and the military may spend more as opposed to purchasing 'off the shelf' options which come with training and maintenance packages.

Obviously if Thailand can develop and then find sufficient numbers of buyers for its weapons platforms the research and build cost do tumble. But again that will only be determined once the performance of the final package can be assessed under 'battle' conditions.

[oneday]

Methinks this lecturer had incentives for his comments.

[worgeordie]

I think the interior colour would make the soldiers sick before

they even got out to fight.green is a calming colour,not a good

choice.

regards Worgeordie

[DP25]

I wonder how it would cope with an IED ?

https://www.facebook.com/dtithailand/videos/496700107156661/

It's designed with IED in mind as they are a common threat in Southern Thailan where this vehicle will be used. It may not be perfect but it is certainly better for the soldiers than the back of a motorcycle or pickup truck

Building their own hardware here is a good idea, it creates good quality, high tech jobs and keeps the money circulating in the Thai economy instead of being sent overseas. This is not the first piece of hardware built in Thailand either, they've been expanding their capabilities rapidly.

For example, Thailand also builds this amored truck (called First Win) and recently signed a contract to sell 20 of them to Malaysia

This is the HTMS Krabi, recently built in Thailand using a British design

[tuanku]

Supporting the previous poster - there seem to be no limits to the imaginations of the Thai Military designers and engineers in this field

here are some Thai designed military vehicles for urban warfare

We can see unique Thainess in the design of this helitukopter too

and a fuel efficient troop transport

[Hawk]

Lecturer sees benefits to Thai arms industry

Yes an unlimited supply of cheap weapons for the army boys.

[silverhawk_usa]

Last week at the Chiang Mai Land Transport Office I saw three of, what appeared to be, the above pictured "First Win" being inspected and I assume licensed. They did not have the gun turret mounted apparently. It was amusing to see them waiting in the queue with all the other vehicles.

[Kasset Tak]

It can be a good thing for the economy and for the rest of the industry/country. Look at Sweden, a country with 9 million people, has not been at war sin 1814 (yes that's right 1814!!!) unless you count UN participation and is in the top 10 of weapons exporting countries in the world!

Edited November 16, 2015 by Kasset Tak

[fred Kubasa]

Thai" Arms" industry presently strenghtening the band on their sling shots !

[eliotness]

It can be a good thing for the economy and for the rest of the industry/country. Look at Sweden, a country with 9 million people, has not been at war sin 1814 (yes that's right 1814!!!) unless you count UN participation and is in the top 10 of weapons exporting countries in the world!

However a substantial number of Swedes fought for the Finns against the Soviets, with even several thousand volunteering for the Wiking Division of the Waffen SS. Following the end of WW2 Sweden was on the front line of the Cold War without wishing to be subservient to the USA. Sweden has always been a leader in world science and engineering, e.g. Nobel and his explosives. To compare Thailand with Sweden is paying the greatest disrespect to Swedish science and engineering (SAAB, VOLVO BOFORS etc etc). Thailand could never in a million years achieve the Swedish level of science and engineering, however it is such a pity that great talent is spent producing weapons of war.

[Kasset Tak]

It can be a good thing for the economy and for the rest of the industry/country. Look at Sweden, a country with 9 million people, has not been at war sin 1814 (yes that's right 1814!!!) unless you count UN participation and is in the top 10 of weapons exporting countries in the world!

However a substantial number of Swedes fought for the Finns against the Soviets, with even several thousand volunteering for the Wiking Division of the Waffen SS. Following the end of WW2 Sweden was on the front line of the Cold War without wishing to be subservient to the USA. Sweden has always been a leader in world science and engineering, e.g. Nobel and his explosives. To compare Thailand with Sweden is paying the greatest disrespect to Swedish science and engineering (SAAB, VOLVO BOFORS etc etc). Thailand could never in a million years achieve the Swedish level of science and engineering, however it is such a pity that great talent is spent producing weapons of war.

Yes, Swedish people where fighting in Finland against the USSR and some joined the Nazis in Germany but Sweden as c country has not been at war sins 1814.

During the cold war Sweden even had its own nuclear program but it became to expensive and most Swedish people did not agree that Sweden should have nuclear weapons. But Thanks to ASEA that became a part of ABB, Sweden has been a part of the development of nuclear reactors. And thanks to Ericson we got things like NMT and GSM as they where the company that did set those standards. SAAB started as an airplane manufacturer and then moved on to make cars, today the car production is gone but they still produce airplanes and weapons because sadly we still need weapons because of all unrest around the globe.

[Wilsonandson]

I wonder if the lecturer is in bed with the P.A.D movement like the owner of the uni is.

[arrowsdawdle]

I wonder how it would cope with an IED ?

No worries, just put one of those bomb detectors on front.

[arrowsdawdle]

I wonder if the lecturer is in bed with the P.A.D movement like the owner of the uni is.

The question is, how could you have any doubt?

[eliotness]

It can be a good thing for the economy and for the rest of the industry/country. Look at Sweden, a country with 9 million people, has not been at war sin 1814 (yes that's right 1814!!!) unless you count UN participation and is in the top 10 of weapons exporting countries in the world!

However a substantial number of Swedes fought for the Finns against the Soviets, with even several thousand volunteering for the Wiking Division of the Waffen SS. Following the end of WW2 Sweden was on the front line of the Cold War without wishing to be subservient to the USA. Sweden has always been a leader in world science and engineering, e.g. Nobel and his explosives. To compare Thailand with Sweden is paying the greatest disrespect to Swedish science and engineering (SAAB, VOLVO BOFORS etc etc). Thailand could never in a million years achieve the Swedish level of science and engineering, however it is such a pity that great talent is spent producing weapons of war.

Yes, Swedish people where fighting in Finland against the USSR and some joined the Nazis in Germany but Sweden as c country has not been at war sins 1814.

During the cold war Sweden even had its own nuclear program but it became to expensive and most Swedish people did not agree that Sweden should have nuclear weapons. But Thanks to ASEA that became a part of ABB, Sweden has been a part of the development of nuclear reactors. And thanks to Ericson we got things like NMT and GSM as they where the company that did set those standards. SAAB started as an airplane manufacturer and then moved on to make cars, today the car production is gone but they still produce airplanes and weapons because sadly we still need weapons because of all unrest around the globe.

I come from a town of 70,000 that relies totally on producing weapons and has done since before WW1. While I have pride in those weapons I deeply regret that we still live in a world where they are needed, albeit now for use as a detterent. However, for a country to proudly boast that although it hasn't fought a war since 1814 but is now number 10 in world arms sales, I find somewhat strange.

[eliotness]

It can be a good thing for the economy and for the rest of the industry/country. Look at Sweden, a country with 9 million people, has not been at war sin 1814 (yes that's right 1814!!!) unless you count UN participation and is in the top 10 of weapons exporting countries in the world!

However a substantial number of Swedes fought for the Finns against the Soviets, with even several thousand volunteering for the Wiking Division of the Waffen SS. Following the end of WW2 Sweden was on the front line of the Cold War without wishing to be subservient to the USA. Sweden has always been a leader in world science and engineering, e.g. Nobel and his explosives. To compare Thailand with Sweden is paying the greatest disrespect to Swedish science and engineering (SAAB, VOLVO BOFORS etc etc). Thailand could never in a million years achieve the Swedish level of science and engineering, however it is such a pity that great talent is spent producing weapons of war.

Yes, Swedish people where fighting in Finland against the USSR and some joined the Nazis in Germany but Sweden as c country has not been at war sins 1814.

During the cold war Sweden even had its own nuclear program but it became to expensive and most Swedish people did not agree that Sweden should have nuclear weapons. But Thanks to ASEA that became a part of ABB, Sweden has been a part of the development of nuclear reactors. And thanks to Ericson we got things like NMT and GSM as they where the company that did set those standards. SAAB started as an airplane manufacturer and then moved on to make cars, today the car production is gone but they still produce airplanes and weapons because sadly we still need weapons because of all unrest around the globe.

I come from a town of 70,000 that relies totally on producing weapons and has done since before WW1. While I have pride in those weapons I deeply regret that we still live in a world where they are needed, albeit now for use as a detterent. However, for a country to proudly boast that although it hasn't fought a war since 1814 but is now number 10 in world arms sales, I find somewhat strange.

[MyFriend You]

Good looking guy, perhaps thinking of buying one for use as his personal transport?

That guy is a Thai?? Looks more like Eastern European to me.