According to information released by the Asian Military Review on July 17, 2020, the Royal Thai Army has taken delivery of the Black Widow Spider 8×8 armored vehicle developed by Thailand’s Defence Technology Institute (DTI). The new vehicle will be tested for one year by the Thai armed forces.
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New Black Widow Spider 8×8 armored vehicle for the Thai army. (Picture source Blogspot aagth1)
The Black Widow Spider 8×8 wheeled armored vehicle was fully designed and developed by Thailand’s Defence Technology Institute (DTI), the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre and private international companies that have expertise in the manufacturing of combat vehicles. According to Thai officers of DTI, the new Black Widow Spider has the same level of technology in terms of mobility, protection and firepower to other similar modern combat vehicles currently available for the European market.
The Black Widow Spider was unveiled in November 2015 during the International Defense and Security Exhibition in Thailand. The vehicle unveiled at the Defense Exhibition in Thailand was configured to be used as IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle fitted with a one-man turret designed and manufactured by a defense Company from Singapour. The turret is armed with 30mm automatic cannon and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun mounted to the left of the main armament.
The new vehicle uses an 8x8 chassis with the driver and powerpack a the front and the troop's compartment at the rear. It can carry a total of 12 soldiers including commander, driver, and gunner. offers a high level of protection up to Level 4 STANAG 4569, against the firing of small arms up to 14.5mm caliber and mine explosion of 10 kg of TNT under the wheels and body of the vehicle.
The Black Widow Spider can run at a maximum speed of 100 km/h with a maximum cruise range of 600 km. The vehicle is fully amphibious being propelled in the water by two propellers mounted at the rear of the hull at a maximum speed of 8 km/h.
New Black Widow Spider 8×8 armored vehicle at the Defense Exhibition in Thailand, November 2017. (Picture source Army Recognition)
