2nd November 2017 - 03:11 GMT | by Sompong Nondhasa in Bangkok
China is moving forward with plans to build a repair and
maintenance centre in Thailand, following October’s
delivery of VT4 main battle tanks. This will create a more
flexible solution for the maintenance of Chinese weapons in Thailand.
The initial plan to build this facility was started by Chinese
technicians and engineers sent to Thailand. Following delivery the first batch
of VT4s by Norinco, a total of 437 different spare parts were despatched for
initial maintenance as part of a one-year deal, as well as the need to
guarantee spares, technical service and repair support for 25+ years.
The process will be to first stock spare parts for the VT4s and VN1
8x8 APCs, as well as spares for other military hardware from China in
the future.
Since 1987, when the Thai military started procuring lower-cost
Chinese weaponry, it has been routinely difficult to obtain spare parts and to
perform maintenance. This forced some systems temporarily out of service.
To resolve these issues after Thailand ordered and imported a
lot of military hardware from China in the past five years, China
offered the option of establishing such a joint military facility in Thailand.
A local repair and maintenance centre will benefit equipment support in the
future.
Apart from setting up the centre, some technologies will be
transferred too. This is a key component of Chinese arms sales to Thailand as
it will eventually enhance self-reliance.
Earlier, Ukraine, who supplied
BTR-3E1s and Oplot-M
tanks to Thailand, also reached an agreement to build a military
production facility there.
Deputy Minister of Defence Gen Udomdej Sitabutr commented,
‘Cooperation with an allied country to build a military production facility is
essential because, in the future, when some military hardware from that country
is out of service, equipment will need to be repaired and maintained. If that
can be done by ourselves, or some key spare parts can be built ourselves, then
we can save a lot of budget to solve those issues.’
Related articles:
D&S 2017: China boosts arms sales to Thailand
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