New AAPC Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier for Thai Marine Corps.

At the Defense and Security Thailand 2017 exhibition, Thailand’s Defence Technology Institute (DTI) unveils the new local-made AAPC 8x8 Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier especially designed for the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The AAPC is developed by DTI in collaboration with ST Kinetics from Singapore and Thai companies.

Thai-made DTI AAPC 8x8 Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier at Defense and Security Thailand 2017 exhibition in Bangkok.

The AAPC (Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carrier) is based on the Black Widow Spider 8x8 armoured personnel which was showcased two year ago during the edition 2015 of Defense and Security Thailand exhibition.

The main feature of the AAPC is its capacity to be used for sea operations thanks to a fording kit mounted on each side of the hull and two propellers located on each side at the rear of the hull. In the water the vehicle can swan at a speed from 10 to 15 km/h. It can conduct amphibious missions up to Sea State 3.

The AAPC is motorized with a Caterpillar C9 coupled to an Allison automatic gearbox. The suspension of the vehicle is made by Timony Technology from Ireland which designs, develops and manufactures powertrains and independent suspension systems for heavy duty trucks and military vehicles.

The AAPC is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 30mm automatic cannon and one 7.62mm coaxila machine gun.

The layout of the AAPC is divided in three main compartments with the engine at the front, a remotely operated weapon station in the middle and the troops area at the rear which can accommodate 11 infantryman. It has a crew of three, driver , commander and gunner. The driver is provided with a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the rear fitted with three day periscopes. Immediately to the rear of the driver is another hatch for the commander.

The AAPC will be fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with 30mm automatic cannon and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

The AAPC provides ballistic and mine protection STANAG Level 2 against firing of small arms 7.62×39mm API BZ at 30 meters and 6kg of TNT explosion under each wheels.

According to Colonel Punpayak, business development director of DTI, a first prototype of the vehicle has already been delivered to the Thai Marine Corps for trial tests and the production phase could started at the end of 2020.

The troops compartment can accommodate 11 infantryman.