First Five T-84 Oplot-M / BM Main Battle Tanks From Ukraine Ready For Thailand

The Malyshev Plant in the Ukraine has finished the first five Oplot-M / BM Main Battle Tanks (MBT) for Thailand. A total of 49 tanks were ordered in 2011 for about 7.2 billion Thai baht or $230 million.

The T-84 is a derivative of the T-80 developed during Soviet times, which replaces Russian components with Ukrainian versions and several other upgrades such as a welded turret, Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor and a Shtora-1 countermeasures suite.

The Oplot version features a host of changes such as a western style turret with compartments for both the crew and ammunition to improve crew survivability. This version retains the 125 mm KBA-3 smoothbore gun, but it has a bustle-mounted autoloader. A 120 mm gun compatible with NATO rounds is available an an option.

The latest version of the Oplot is the Oplot-M or Oplot BM which features even more improved armor and various upgraded electronics. The Oplot-M MBT will replace the M41 tanks in Thai service and up to 200 Oplot tanks may eventually be acquired.

Swiss Parliament Approves Purchase of JAS Gripen E / NG From Sweden

The Parliament of Switzerland has approved the purchase of JAS Gripen E / NG fighter aircraft From Sweden by a majority decision. The lower house had previously given its approval and Swiss pilots are taking part in test flights of the Gripen NG.

While the decision is good news for the Gripen program, the purchase may need to be submitted to a popular vote by the public. There are some signs that a significant proportion of the Swiss public does not approve of the acquisition.

The plan is to buy 22 new Gripen E aircraft from SAAB, the latest version of the Gripen and also known as the Gripen NG, with a budget of 3.13 billion Swiss francs or about $3.4 billion.

SAAB has already begun work on 60 Gripen E/F fighter aircraft for the Swedish Air Force. The first fighter aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2018 and are to be completed by 2026.

Thailand to negotiate purchase of 3 Chinese Type 054A class frigates

Thailand is to negotiate a Chinese proposal of 3 Type 054A class frigates for the Royal Thai Navy, which has budgeted 30 billion Thai Baht or roughly $1 billion for 2 frigates.

The Thai government last year approved the purchase of 2 frigates after a previous attempt to purchase 6 used Type U-206 submarines from Germany was unsuccessful.

Instead of the 2 frigates budgeted, Thailand would receive 3 Type 054T frigates, build according to Thai specifications, and which could come with offsets for local component production and up to 6 Z-9C Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters. 

The Thai Navy already operates 4 Type 053 frigates, which were build by China for Thailand during the nineties and fitted with various western systems and weapons.

The Type 054A frigates are upgraded versions of the 2 earlier Type 054 frigates, which in the past have been reported to cost the Chinese Navy around $250 million each. So far, 16 Type 054A hulls have been either launched or commissioned with several more under contruction.

Each Combined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) Type054A frigate has a length of 134 m, a beam of 16m, a maximum displacement of 4053 tons and is armed with:

• one PJ26 76 mm dual-purpose gun
• 2 x 4 YJ-83 / C-802A anti-ship missiles
• 4 x 8 Vertical Launch System (VLS) able to fire HHQ-16 anti-air missiles or rocket-assisted anti-submarine torpedoes
• two H/PJ12 7-barrel 30 mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) gatling guns
• 2 x 3 324 mm torpedoes

The Type 054A ships have also been designed with reduction of their Radar Cross Section in mind.

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