The Royal Thai Army (RTA) will cut the number of VT-4 battle tanks it wants to buy from China from 98 to 60 due to insufficient funds.
VT-4 battle tanks
Army chief Gen. Chalermchai Sittisat said on April 14 that of the 60 VT-4 tanks, 28 worth 4 billion baht (116.1 million USD) were purchased by the army last year and are expected to be delivered late this year.
The army recently proposed the purchase of 20 additional tanks to the cabinet but only 10, worth 2 billion baht, were approved. A request to purchase 10 more tanks will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval soon.
As for the remaining 12 tanks, the procurement will be earmarked for the next fiscal year.
According to him, the 60 new tanks will be divided equally between the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Battalions in the northeastern provinces of Udon Thani and Khon Kaen.
The new tanks will replace US-made M-41 models which will be decommissioned after having been in service for more than 40 years, he said.
Last year, the RTA also cancelled the procurement of 39 T-84 Oplot tanks ordered from Ukraine after only 10 were delivered to Thailand.
VNA
