7th November 2017 - 12:11 GMT | by Gordon
Arthur in Bangkok
Two years ago the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), a
division of the Thai Ministry of Defence, displayed a prototype of its Black
Widow Spider 8x8 APC. In the intervening space of time, it has
spawned a child known as the Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier (AAPC).
With the solitary prototype displayed at Defense &
Security 2017 in Bangkok, it has significant modifications compared to the
Black Widow Spider being developed for the Royal Thai Army (RTA).
It will have a flotation kit installed on the hull flanks
to allow it to swim from ship to shore under Sea State 2 conditions at speeds
of 10-15km/h. A trim vane is fitted on the bow.
Another difference is a lengthened hull between the
second and third wheels. The hull roof is also strengthened to support the
turret’s weight and recoil forces. The vehicle will later feature add-on
armour.
The 24t AAPC was seen fitted with an unmanned turret
fitted with a 30mm cannon and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, something required by
the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC). ST Kinetics is acting as a technical
partner for this project and has supplied this turret for the prototype.
It can carry 11 marines in addition to its crew of three
(driver, gunner and commander). It is powered by a Caterpillar C9 400hp engine
coupled to an Allison automatic transmission.
Col Chatchapong Punpayak, director of DTI’s business
development department, said the AAPC shares 90% commonality with the Black
Widow Spider. Its development should be completed by next September.
In contrast, the army’s 8x8 vehicle is fitted with a
remote-controlled weapon station (RWS) with 12.7mm machine gun and coaxial 40mm
automatic grenade launcher. A prototype of such an RWS was displayed, this
having been developed by DTI as an alternative to a more expensive imported
solution.
The Black Widow Spider, which has a more limited swimming
capability, is undergoing improvements based on feedback from the RTA after
trials in July 2016. Modifications include a thermal camera for the driver,
rearranged exhaust system and changed roof hatches so that soldiers can mount
machine guns. Punpayak said it should be ready for a further evaluation in
April.
The Thai military has significant numbers of M113 APCs
that need to be replaced in due course. The army is thus looking for an
economical APC that could fit this bill.
Although the army is fielding BTR-3E1 and VN1 APCs
from Ukraine and China respectively, it needs a yet-cheaper vehicle valued at
no more than THB120 million ($3.6 million), a gap that DTI hopes its platform
can fill. Similarly, the RTMC needs an amphibious vehicle with a unit price no
greater than THB150 million ($4.5 million).
However, developing an 8x8 armoured vehicle to series
production level is a technically challenging task, and it remains to be seen
whether the Thai military will invest faith in this domestic solution. Indeed,
Punpayak said the first step was to build trust from the armed forces.
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