Thailand moves to buy $24.9m anti-ship missiles from US

[webfact]

Thailand moves to buy $24.9m anti-ship missiles from US

By The Nation

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is a step closer to buying up to five Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles from the United States at an estimated cost of US$24.9 million.

 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a unit under US Department of Defense, submitted the required certification to Congress of the possible sale on Wednesday, according to a statement released on Friday.

 

This Congress notification of a potential sale is required by US law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

 

The Thai government has requested to purchase up to five RGM-84L Harpoon Block II surface launched missiles and one RTM-84L Harpoon Block II exercise missile, the statement said.

 

The proposal included containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor representatives technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

 

“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Thai strategic relationship and to improve the security of an important partner,” the statement said.

 

The Thai Navy intends to use the missiles on its DW3000 Class Frigate. The proposed sale of the Harpoon Block II missiles and support will increase its maritime potential. Thailand has purchased Harpoon missiles previously and will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces, the statement said.

 

“The proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” the agency noted. 

 

The principal contractor is the Boeing Company.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30323502

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-11

 

[canopus1969]

Apart from the odd illegal fishing boat what on earth are these things any good for 

[Just1Voice]

They have to protect themselves from the powerful and mighty Lao Navy. 

[z42]

The only question worth any salt here is "why?"

The only threat to Thailand's security are the armed forces themselves. They operate as a state within a state, and seemingly are bereft of boundaries and morals ?

[colinneil]

Well for once i am not against this military spending

Harpoon missiles are much more use to the country than submarines.

Using the missiles on a frigate makes sense, updating the ships capabilities.

[JohnLick]

They will use it against drones... their high tech system couldn't stop DJI hobby model

[NCC1701A]

If these missiles can lock onto a jetski or a minivan I think Thailand should buy about a thousand of them.

[Thechook]

Miilitary government still spending big on toys

[WhizBang]

More toys for the boys.

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand is a step closer to buying up to five Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles from the United States at an estimated cost of US$24.9 million.

Actual cost just US$ 1.2 million each - information from this source.

[mfd101]

We need to think strategically here:

 

They're preparing for freedom-of-navigation patrols in the South China Sea. The fruits of Tillerson's visit ...

 

Should improve Thailand's bargaining position with the Chinese re the very fast train project.

[Dave67]

$24.9 Million the price P-Man has paid to Visit Trump

 

5 missiles? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just in case Thailand goes to war with the Maldives 

Edited August 11, 2017 by Dave67

[worgeordie]

Just for show,or will they be test firing any at  nearly 5 Million dollars a pop.!!

they seem to be spending like drunken sailors on pay day.

regards worgeordie

[halloween]

22 minutes ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Actual cost just US$ 1.2 million each - information from this source.

Either wiki got an incredibly fast update, or Harpoons were already in service with the RTN.

[tonray]

1 hour ago, z42 said:

The only question worth any salt here is "why?"

The only threat to Thailand's security are the armed forces themselves. They operate as a state within a state, and seemingly are bereft of boundaries and morals ?

Rex Tillerson was just here with some convincing incentives one would guess.

[halloween]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The proposal included containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor representatives technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

So you pay extra for the box, the handbook, and spares and repair parts for something that basically does nothing until fired, when it is completely destroyed.

[Trentham]

You cannot blame them. Fiji is looking very threatening.

[JAS21]

48 minutes ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Actual cost just US$ 1.2 million each - information from this source.

Do you know how much a couple of dozen or so Mercedes cost ....... 

[twizzian]

Only 5. 

Is that even enough for one ship

[Lupatria]

Sorry I'm not good when it comes math. That's why I ask a question: 249m Thb how many nurses would get a decent salary out of this?

[rijb]

59 minutes ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Actual cost just US$ 1.2 million each - information from this source.

That's the farang price.  

[patyh]

Better buy all the toys before the next government introduce a sensible budget! 

[tonray]

28 minutes ago, Trentham said:

You cannot blame them. Fiji is looking very threatening.

No they are used to ugly men in skirts.

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, patyh said:

Better buy all the toys before the next government introduce a sensible budget! 

Next government....ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ahhh. Stop you are killing me....

[amdy2206]

You can tell the Military are runming the country!!! 

[scottiejohn]

56 minutes ago, halloween said:

Either wiki got an incredibly fast update, or Harpoons were already in service with the RTN.

The RTN has Harpoon (8cells each) on 5 ships in service plus the 2 DW 3000  under construction (again each capable of carrying 8 harpoons each).

 

The cost as quoted for just 5+1 missiles is far too high as the figures quoted elsewhere for FMS transactions vary between $1m to $1.5M per pop.

 

They may be setting up their own Missile Maintenance Facility (MMF) in country which could account for the extra costs as the costs of returning missile to the manufacturer (or nearest country with a Harpoon MMF) is horrendous.  This is especially so when you have to add in the number of extra missile inventory you need to carry to cover the time when a percentage of your missiles are out of country for maintenance/upgrading.

[mark01]

That's the price of foreign recognition.

[wombat]

and this will be your contribution to our NK party

[Bill Miller]

1 hour ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Actual cost just US$ 1.2 million each - information from this source.

That would be for the missiles alone.
The purchase request included elements of the entire system, spares, tech support, etc.

[Narratio]

Most of that money is not in the 5 + 1 missiles themselves, it's in all that other stuff.

These things are nastily smart. It's almost like "Turn it on, point it at the target, press the red button, go have lunch while shrapnel falls around you". So the big bucks are most probably in training of people to push the button, trainers to show them how buttons are pushed. Maintenance procedures for keeping the button clean and untarnished. That sort of thing. Very important to know which button is which.