Thailand looks to procure more VT-4 tanks from China - Jane's

[LKJ86]

Thailand looks to procure more VT-4 tanks from China
Jon Grevatt - Jane's Defence Industry
16 January 2019

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is reportedly seeking cabinet approval to procure additional VT-4 main battle tanks (MBTs) made by the China North Industries Corporation (Norinco).

Local media reported on 16 January that the RTA proposal features the acquisition of an additional 14 units at a cost of about THB2.3 billion (USD72.5 million).

The proposal, if approved by government, will take the RTA's VT-4 inventory to 52. The RTA ordered 28 VT-4s from Norinco in 2016 for THB5 billion and another 10 in 2017 for THB2 billion.

The initial batch of 28 tanks was delivered in late 2017, making Thailand the first export customer of the VT-4, which is the export version of the MBT-3000 design.

The RTA has not yet confirmed the planned acquisition of an additional 14 VT-4s, although Jane's understands that the proposed procurement is consistent with the service's requirements.

Announcing plans to acquire a second batch of 10 VT-4s in 2017, Thailand's Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon stated that the RTA would look to procure additional tanks over the next few years.

RTA sources have also previously confirmed to Jane's an overall requirement within the service to procure at least another hundred MBTs to replace ageing and depleted inventories of US-produced M41 light tanks as well as increasing the army's size and capabilities.

Source:https://www.janes.com/article/85735/thailand-looks-to-procure-more-vt-4-tanks-from-china

 

[LKJ86]

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

VN bought Russian T90s ,backward but still new generation MBT,Thailand has little number of new generation MBT,Ukraine order is ruined by Ukranian civil war.
VT-4 is stronger compared to Russian T90s upgraded from Russian older version.

 

[Beast]

VN bought Russian T90s ,backward but still new generation MBT,Thailand has little number of new generation MBT,Ukraine order is ruined by Ukranian civil war.
VT-4 is stronger compared to Russian T90s upgraded from Russian older version.

The fire control of VT-4 is much better than T-90S. Not to even mention automatic transmission gearbox and engine. T-90s will take donkey years to just change the engine in case of breakdown or Knock out while VT-4 engine swapped can be done in 45mins on battlefield.

 

[LKJ86]

 

[waz]

Good stuff, it looks like the VT4 has been a success.
Come on Pakistan place the order now!

 

[925boy]

Why is Thailand arming heavier? What is the perceived/real threat?

 

[Viet]

VN bought Russian T90s ,backward but still new generation MBT,Thailand has little number of new generation MBT,Ukraine order is ruined by Ukranian civil war.
VT-4 is stronger compared to Russian T90s upgraded from Russian older version.

Come on, you can admit You hype up Vietnam “threat” to sell expensive tanks to Thailand.

Why is Thailand arming heavier? What is the perceived/real threat?

The Siamese fear Vietnam. However there is no reason. It roots in history.

Vietnam victory monument over Thailand (battle of 1785)

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Good stuff, it looks like the VT4 has been a success.
Come on Pakistan place the order now!

But focus on Economy firstly,I oppose Pak buy any new MBT for the moment!
For the sake of Foreign currency reserve.

Come on, you can admit You hype up Vietnam “threat” to sell expensive tanks to Thailand.


The Siamese fear Vietnam. However there is no reason. It roots in history.

Vietnam victory monument over Thailand (battle of 1785)

View attachment 533681

You mean shame like this:
South China Sea Conflit

Date 14 March 1988
Chigua Reef
Territorial changes:
Chinese retook Chigua Reef
Belligerents

China

Vietnam

Casualties and losses
China 0 killed =VS= Vietnam 64 killed
China 1 wounded =VS= Vietnam 11 wounded
China 0 captured =VS= Vietnam 9 captured
China 0 armed transporters sunk =VS= Vietnam 2 armed transporters sunk
China 0 landing craft destroyed =VS= Vietnam 1 landing craft destroyed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

2)
No matter what kind of tank the VN army buys, it is not a threat to China(The strength of the VN army and the strength of the Chinese PLA army are not at the same level).

The real decision to buy these tanks was made by the highest commander of the Thai army and it is a smart decision.


The VT-4 tanks are absolutely representative of the highest level tanks currently available on the market, much more powerful than the Vietnamese T90S (actually improved from the Soviet-era inventory:T-72).

 

[Nike]

Thailand MBT and light tank fleets is relic from Cold war era, they had been overdue to modernization since long.

VT 4 and Oplot is good to replace their stingray and Patton fleets

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Thailand MBT and light tank fleets is relic from Cold war era, they had been overdue to modernization since long.

VT 4 and Oplot is good to replace their stingray and Patton fleets

View attachment 533722 View attachment 533723 View attachment 533724

VT-4

Thailand intends to purchase a total of 150 Chinese-made VT-4 MBT: unit price 5.8 million US dollars
Military observation 2018-11-26 17:51:13


As we all know, Thailand has been introducing a large number of Chinese weapons and equipment in recent years, such as the VT-4 (MBT-3000) third-generation foreign trade main battle tank developed by China North Industries. In March 2016, China's VT-4 defeated the Russian T-90 main battle tank and received orders for the purchase of 28 main battle tanks of the Thai Army.

Delivered within two years as planned, but Northern Industries completed the delivery of the first 28 VT-4 tanks in just one and a half years, while the Thai Army added 21 more, and said it may order 150 units in the future. The unit price of VT-4 tanks is said to be $5.8 million.

China VT-4 is a foreign trade main battle tank developed on the basis of 99A. It has a total weight of 53 tons and 1200 horsepower (99A is 1500). It is equipped with a 125mm caliber smoothing gun and uses the "second stage bomb". It can penetrate most of the three generations of tank front armor including M1A2, Leopard II and T-90;

At the same time, the front armor of the VT-4 can withstand the attack of 120mm and 125mm shelling armor-piercing projectiles. Of course, the VT-4 is naturally equipped with an advanced "hunting" fire control system, which is far superior to the Russian-made T-90 and the Ukrainian "fortress" main battle tank.

Everyone may have heard about the Ukrainian T-84 (fortress), and Thailand has also ordered 48 cars. However, it took Ukraine six years to deliver 20 vehicles to the Thai Army. According to this progress, if the Thai Army wants to install 150 T-84 tanks, it is estimated that it will take at least 40 years to complete the delivery.

Military fans should know why Thailand has purchased a large amount of Army equipment in recent years. The reason is naturally the pressure from neighboring countries. For example, Vietnam, its army is currently the most powerful of Southeast Asian countries, with more than 1,500 main battle tanks.

Of course, the Vietnamese Army’s more than 1,500 main battle tanks are basically equipped in the 1950s and 1960s, such as the T-34, T-54/55, T-62, and even some Chinese 59-type main battle tanks (300 Vehicles). Objectively speaking, although the number of weapons and equipment of the Vietnamese Army is large, the quality is not high.

Therefore, after entering this century, the Vietnamese Army has also accelerated the speed of upgrading its modern weapons and equipment. For example, in cooperation with Israel, a T-54M3 (Vietnamese domestic T-M3) main battle tank was developed. In fact, it is an upgrade product of the T-54/55 main battle tank.


For Vietnam: too many imported accessories, the cost is too expensive! It is better to buy the Russian T-90 main battle tank directly. In 2017, Vietnam watched the Thai Army's large-scale installation of VT-4 tanks. There was no way to order 64 T-90S main battle tanks from Russia.

According to recent reports from Russian media, manufacturers estimate that the first batch of T-90S tanks will be delivered to the Vietnamese Army. Then let's finally look at whether the T-90S introduced in Vietnam can compete with VT-4. First of all, the Russian T-90S is actually an upgraded version of the T-72 tank.

Long story short, what about the T-90S? It weighs about 46 tons and uses 1200 horsepower. The power is very unstable. When the Indian T-90S participated in the 2017 tank race, it was out of the race because of three failed climbs.

In addition, the T-90S uses the T-80U's fire control system, which is behind the VT-4 for many years; plus it is equipped with a French thermal imager, so after the cost increases, the compression cost can only be reduced. The turret is made of aluminum plastic sandwich, not the fragmented armor used in today's advanced three-generation tank (VT-4).

VT-4 tank exported to Thailand

The VT-4 tank hoisted to land after arriving at the port of Thailand

VT-4 tank road transport

VT-4 tank arriving at the Thai military destination

VT-4 tank internal picture

In general, the T-72 is indeed classic, and the T-90S inherits its simplicity and practicality. But compared to today's three generations of tanks, the design and informatization of the T-72 has long since fallen behind. Even if you upgrade to the T-90, you can only say that you can barely compete with similar tanks, and there is no advantage.

If the T-90 is really strong, then Russia will not be in a hurry to serve T-14... Therefore, the T-90S tanks introduced by the Vietnamese Army can only be used in front of countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar. When I met the Thai VT-4 main battle tank, it was not necessarily an opponent!

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Type 99 of CHINA PLA.

99式坦克

China's GL5 tank vehicle active defense system successfully intercepted anti-tank rockets

Thailand is now actually in a rush！
After pass order to Ukrain,Thailand only gets 20 units of T84 in 6 years!
And China deliveried 28 Units in 1.5 years！

 

[Viet]

But focus on Economy firstly,I oppose Pak buy any new MBT for the moment!
For the sake of Foreign currency reserve.


You mean shame like this:
South China Sea Conflit

Date 14 March 1988
Chigua Reef
Territorial changes:
Chinese retook Chigua Reef
Belligerents

China

Vietnam

Casualties and losses
China 0 killed =VS= Vietnam 64 killed
China 1 wounded =VS= Vietnam 11 wounded
China 0 captured =VS= Vietnam 9 captured
China 0 armed transporters sunk =VS= Vietnam 2 armed transporters sunk
China 0 landing craft destroyed =VS= Vietnam 1 landing craft destroyed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Chinese_domination_of_Vietnam

2)
No matter what kind of tank the VN army buys, it is not a threat to China(The strength of the VN army and the strength of the Chinese PLA army are not at the same level).

The real decision to buy these tanks was made by the highest commander of the Thai army and it is a smart decision.


The VT-4 tanks are absolutely representative of the highest level tanks currently available on the market, much more powerful than the Vietnamese T90S (actually improved from the Soviet-era inventory:T-72).

Are you mad?
Vietnam is not a threat to neither China nor Thailand.
You can hype up the threat to sell more tanks to Thailand. Good for you!

If you bother to look at the map, in order to attack Thailand, Vietnamese tank armies need to cross Laos and Cambodia. We aren’t mad enough.

We are not living in the times of USSR.

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Are you mad?
Vietnam is not a threat to neither China nor Thailand.
You can hype up the threat to sell more tanks to Thailand. Good for you!

If you bother to look at the map, in order to attack Thailand, Vietnamese tank armies need to cross Laos and Cambodia. We aren’t mad enough.

We are not living in the times of USSR.

You Vietnam has violated the borders of Thailand, when you controlled Laos and Cambodia in 1980s.
Vietnam is a country that has been convicted of violating the territory of other countries.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam and Myanmar are major threats to Thailand.
In the near term, Vietnam is Thailand's biggest threat, just as China is Vietnam's biggest threat. However, the only opponent in China’s eyes is the United States.

Or it can be said that for the moment, the only country that poses a threat to China is the United States, and other countries do not have that strength.

 

[Beast]

Why is Thailand arming heavier? What is the perceived/real threat?

Myanmar. They are traditional Thai rival. Has many times invaded Siam in past. Myanmar now has a very robust economy and they exported lots of mineral resources. Their military is getting stronger everyday.