Thailand plans to purchase VN1 8x8 armoured from China 11706171

Defense & Security News - Thailand
 
Thailand plans to purchase 34 VN1 8x8 armoured vehicles from China.
According to the Bangkok Post, government of Thailand plans to purchase 34 wheeled armoured vehicles VN1 from China for an amount of 2.3 billion baht ($2.57 million). This acquisition is a part of the national defense development plan.
     
According to the Bangkok Post, government of Thailand plans to purchase 34 wheeled armoured vehicles VN1 from China for an amount of 2.3 billion baht ($2.57 million). This acquisition is a part of the national defense development plan.
NORINCO VN1 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier at IDEX 2009 defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
     
The plan includes also the purchase of S26T Yuan-class submarine from China worth 13.5 billion baht (around $15 million) which would be included in the army's fiscal budget for 2017-2021. The purchase request for Chinese-made VN-1 armoured vehicles was submitted to the Defence Ministry, which forwarded it to the cabinet for approval.
 

Thailand’s annual defence spending is valued at $5.7bn in 2016 and is anticipated to reach $6.9bn by 2021, following a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.06%, according to a report by Strategic Defence Intelligence (SDI).

The VN1 is an 8x8 armoured vehicle designed and manufactured by the Chinese Defense Company NORINCO. The hull of the VN1 is made of high hardness armour steel that provides protection against firing of small arms and shell splinters.

In APC configuration, the VN1 can carry 10 military personnel including driver, commander, gunner and 7 infantrymen. The vehicle can be fitted with a wide range of armament up to 30mm automatic cannon and HJ-73D anti-tank missile.

The VN1 is motorized with a water-cooled diesel engine DEUTZ BF6M1051CP coupled to a mechanical transmission. It can run at a maximum speed of 100 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 800 km. The vehicle is fully amphibious propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 8 km/h thanks to two propellers mounted at the rear of the hull.