Thailand to Buy Battle Tanks from China

[webfact]

Thailand to Buy Battle Tanks from China
By Prashanth Parameswaran

Agreement inked with Beijing for MBT-3000s

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s military has inked an agreement with China to purchase tanks from the Asian giant, officials said earlier this week.

Thai officials have confirmed that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has formally signed a pact to buy the MBT-3000 main battle tank produced by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). Deliveries are expected to begin before the end of the year and continue within a two-year timespan.

If the deal is realized, it would make Thailand the first known export customer of the MBT-3000, also referred to as the V-4.

Full story: http://thediplomat.com/2016/05/thailand-to-buy-battle-tanks-from-china/

-- THE DIPLOMAT 2016-05-19

[worgeordie]

Thailand has bought light tanks from China before,quite a

while ago,and the majority developed cracks,I think once

bitten ,twice shy,should be taken into consideration.

regards Worgeordie

[NongKhaiKid]

It used to be the govt of the day gave the military their new toys to keep them happy and onside but now the military are the govt so it cuts down on a lot of the faffing around for public consumption.

See, the coup did have some use after all well for the military that is.

[Thailand]

Why?

[taony]

Do you really need tanks to cut down student protesters? Seems like overkill.

How many are they buying?

Edited May 19, 2016 by taony

[Duncan Donut]

What's wrong with continuing to use Elephants?

[ezzra]

Thailand must be foreseeing wars with imaginary enemies as they going on a shopping spree of submarines,

tanks, armored personal carriers and new jet fighters from Sweden, all the while the country is

parched and getting drier by the day while government is waiting for the rain to come... way to Thailand,

you got your priorities all backwards.....

[laolover88]

I thought that was why the PM went to Russia, so they did not have to buy Chinese ones?

What are they for?

Are we going to have Mayday parades? Or are they to be used in those patriotic videos like the one with the soldier scuttling out from behind a tank?

[Usernames]

Do they come with a warranty?

[DrTuner]

So what's Thailand's version of Tiananmen square?

[VN4now]

Never been exported. Thailand is the first customer. Logistics, repairs, training won't be in place; why would Thailand want to be a guinea pig here?

[chainarong]

Thailand must be foreseeing wars with imaginary enemies as they going on a shopping spree of submarines,

tanks, armored personal carriers and new jet fighters from Sweden, all the while the country is

parched and getting drier by the day while government is waiting for the rain to come... way to Thailand,

you got your priorities all backwards.....

U forgot high speed trains

[waldroj]

As noted by Dr Turner (#10 above).

They should have waited until June 4 to do the signing (the 27th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests)!

Edited May 19, 2016 by waldroj

[Caps]

I thought that was why the PM went to Russia, so they did not have to buy Chinese ones?

What are they for?

Are we going to have Mayday parades? Or are they to be used in those patriotic videos like the one with the soldier scuttling out from behind a tank?

They are allegedly getting helicopters from Russia

[Bangkokazy]

The MBT-3000 is a recent Chinese main battle tank, developed specially for export. It is also referred as VT-4. It is being marketed by NORINCO. It is an improved version of VT1A. The MBT-3000 is similar to the Type 99G which is currently in service with the PLA, but has downgraded capabilities such as sights, propulsion and gun. A model of this MBT was publicly presented in 2012. First pictures of this new tank appeared in 2013. It seems that the MBT-300 was proposed for Pakistan as an Al Khalid Mk.2.

This tank is not an entirely new design. It owns its existence to the Soviet T-72 of the Cold War era which has been around for over 30 years. The T-72 proved to be reliable but not too effective in combat. In the 1980s China obtained this tank from Romania and cloned it. The MBT-3000 is the culmination of decades of fine-tuning many tank systems that have been of Soviet origin. Also this tank shows some Western influence in its design. A number of improvements over the previous Chinese designs is substantial, however none of them greatly improved tank's performance.

The MBT-3000 uses proven technology and is cost-effective. This tank is being proposed for developing countries, interested in upgrading their inventory. The MBT-3000 is a superior and more expensive alternative to the VT2, that is another Chinese design for export. However this tank is no match for modern Western MBTs.

This Chinese tank has a low silhouette. It is a key T-72 feature. Hull and turret of the MBT-3000 is of welded steel construction with a layer of composite armor over the front arc. Official sources claim that side skirts are also made of composite armor. Also there are modular add-on explosive reactive armor blocks. The MBT-3000 has a redesigned turret with a wedge-shaped armor, similar to that of the Type 99G. Front arc protection has been improved comparing with the previous VT1A. Side skirts can be fitted with reactive armor. The tank has an NBC protection system. It is also fitted with new fire extinguishing and explosion suppression systems.

This machine is also fitted with passive countermeasures system. It links laser threat warning reviver with smoke grenade launching. It reduces the chance of being hit by enemy anti-tank guided weapons.

The MBT-3000 is armed with a fully-stabilized 125-mm smoothbore gun. The gun is fed by an automatic carousel-type loader. The autoloader reduces the tank crew to three and allow to reduce dimensions of the vehicle. Both the gun and autoloader were copied from the Soviet T-72. Loading speed is 8 rounds per minute. This tank fires APFSDS, HEAT and HE/HEF rounds. It is also compatible with gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles. These are Russian 9K119 Refleks (AT-11 Sniper) missiles, produced in China under license. Missiles are launched in the same manner as ordinary munitions. Missiles have a maximum range of 5 000 m. Typically four missiles are carried. This anti-tank guided missile capability is not common in Western designs. A total of 38 rounds are carried for the main gun. 22 of them are loaded into the autoloader and are ready to use. Other rounds are stored inside the hull.

There is also a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. Also the is a roof-mounted 12.7-mm machine gun. Initially it was manually operated by the vehicle commander. Later it became remotely controlled from inside of the tank. So the tank commander no longer has to expose himself to enemy fire.

The tank is fully digitalized and is fitted with a battlefield management system. Gunner and commander use a second-generation cooled thermal imagers. It seems that these sights were jointly developed with ASELSAN of Turkey. Fire control system has a hunter-killer capability. This tank can fire accurately on the move. Vehicle is also fitted with a GPS navigation system.

The MBT-3000 has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.

It is claimed that this main battle tank is fitted with an indigenous turbocharged diesel engine, developing 1 300 hp. However it might actually be of Ukrainian origin. It is worth mentioning that the Chinese Army Type 99G is powered by a more powerful engine, developing 1 500 hp and based on a German design. Some sources report that the MBT-3000 might be also fitted with a more powerful diesel, developing 1 500 hp. Engine is mated to an automatic gearbox. This MBT has a

[tomwct]

Do you really need tanks to fight corruption. I thought they were going to buy Russian Tanks? Amazing Thailand!

[alocacoc]

Do they come with a warranty?

Unfortunately not. They buy it by Lazada.

This is how an African Country ended up with buying helicopters from China. Good luck.

Edited May 19, 2016 by alocacoc

[Usernames]

The US and Vietnam are laying the groundwork for US military sales to Vietnam. Wonder how this Chinese tank would do facing off against an M1 Abrams? Could be that Thailand chose the wrong supplier.

[Koosdedooes]

The US and Vietnam are laying the groundwork for US military sales to Vietnam. Wonder how this Chinese tank would do facing off against an M1 Abrams? Could be that Thailand chose the wrong supplier.

What all those soldiers killed during the American/ Vietnam war and now the US are selling arms to pinko commies..

BTW the topic is Thailand, China and tanks...not US, Vietnam..and M1s

Edited May 19, 2016 by Koosdedooes

[mtls2005]

So what's Thailand's version of Tiananmen square?

Democracy Monument?

But then they should probably sell that on eBay; it's in mint condition, only used by the help a few times.

[JAG]

Never been exported. Thailand is the first customer. Logistics, repairs, training won't be in place; why would Thailand want to be a guinea pig here?

Logistics? Repairs? Training?

Why do they want those - these are new, new, new...

[jamesbrock]

28 tanks at 188 billion baht a piece - lots of scope for personal enrichment there!

[LennyW]

28 tanks at 188 billion baht a piece - lots of scope for personal enrichment there!

It's million, not billion, but yeah still great potential to line someones pockets!

[jamesbrock]

28 tanks at 188 billion baht a piece - lots of scope for personal enrichment there!

It's million, not billion, but yeah still great potential to line someones pockets!

Good pick up.

[zydeco]

The US and Vietnam are laying the groundwork for US military sales to Vietnam. Wonder how this Chinese tank would do facing off against an M1 Abrams? Could be that Thailand chose the wrong supplier.

What all those soldiers killed during the American/ Vietnam war and now the US are selling arms to pinko commies..

BTW the topic is Thailand, China and tanks...not US, Vietnam..and M1s

The topic just might include the implicit use of these newly purchased Chinese tanks. Just what are they for? Just why is Thailand shifting its military procurement from the US and Europe to China and Russia? Things getting a little clearer for you? Here is another point of clarity: Vietnam and several other neighbors of Thailand have direct territorial disputes with China, who Thailand is in the process of allying itself with. So, yes, if these new Chinese tanks conceivably find themselves in combat, it could be with an enemy of the Thai-Chinese axis. And if American weapons are sold to Vietnam, then that means these Chinese made tanks could be facing off against Abram M1s. And if that is the case, btw, I wouldn't put two nickels on the Chinese made POS.

[Bender]

28 tanks at 188 billion baht a piece - lots of scope for personal enrichment there!

It's million, not billion, but yeah still great potential to line someones pockets!

188 millions baht? around 5 millions USD, they are made in wood?

[OMGImInPattaya]

More low quality Chinese imports.

[Koosdedooes]

The US and Vietnam are laying the groundwork for US military sales to Vietnam. Wonder how this Chinese tank would do facing off against an M1 Abrams? Could be that Thailand chose the wrong supplier.

What all those soldiers killed during the American/ Vietnam war and now the US are selling arms to pinko commies..

BTW the topic is Thailand, China and tanks...not US, Vietnam..and M1s

The topic just might include the implicit use of these newly purchased Chinese tanks. Just what are they for? Just why is Thailand shifting its military procurement from the US and Europe to China and Russia? Things getting a little clearer for you? Here is another point of clarity: Vietnam and several other neighbors of Thailand have direct territorial disputes with China, who Thailand is in the process of allying itself with. So, yes, if these new Chinese tanks conceivably find themselves in combat, it could be with an enemy of the Thai-Chinese axis. And if American weapons are sold to Vietnam, then that means these Chinese made tanks could be facing off against Abram M1s. And if that is the case, btw, I wouldn't put two nickels on the Chinese made POS.

But thats an off topic,speculating and a convoluted attempt to bring the US into a topic once again..the topic is about purchase of said tanks not what they would used for.

Why dont you start a new topic then ?

[LennyW]

28 tanks at 188 billion baht a piece - lots of scope for personal enrichment there!

It's million, not billion, but yeah still great potential to line someones pockets!

188 millions baht? around 5 millions USD, they are made in wood?

Each.

[jamesbrock]

28 tanks at 188 billion baht a piece - lots of scope for personal enrichment there!

It's million, not billion, but yeah still great potential to line someones pockets!

188 millions baht? around 5 millions USD, they are made in wood?

Each.

"According to news agency Bloomberg, the cost per unit is US$4 million compared to US tank Abrams, US$6.9 million."

http://defence-blog.com/army/china-offers-100-vt4-main-battle-tanks-for-peru.html

I'm sure that 35 million baht difference—per tank—is purely a result of the exchange rate...