DTI and Chaiseri fom Thailand to export First Win MRAP armored vehicle to the Philippines.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has a need to supply Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP) 4x4 total of 900 vehicles for security and anti-insurgency in the country, Defense Studies reports. Hence, Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd. has offered its First Win 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle in a left-hand drive version to the Philippines which could order 200 units.
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Chaiseri First Win MRAP vehicle displayed at Defense and Security Thailand 2018 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Thai Defense Technology Institute (DTI) and Thai company Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd. have founded Thai Defense Industry (TDI) to support exporting of Thailand's local defense industries products. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippines took place on 12 May. It is progress in supporting the offering of Chaiseri First Win 4x4 family armored vehicles to the Philippines. If successful, the Philippines will be the third country in ASEAN to supply Thailand's First Win wheeled vehicle after Malaysia as Deftech AV4 4x4, and Indonesia as the Hanoman 4x4. The Philippines would be the latest export customer with Bhutan for various models including 15 vehicles for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.

The First Win 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle has been procured from the Royal Thai Army and Thai security agencies in large numbers, Defense Studies reports, meaning the Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Marine Corps, Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Police, the Department of Special Investigation of the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Institute of Forensic Science and the Department of Corrections, etc. are current users of First Wins. The Philippines market is being delayed because the country has had a presidential election on May 9, 2022.

The First Win project started in 2007. In 2012, the vehicle obtained its qualification. 2013 saw Chaiseri win its first contract with its homeland. In 2014, 62 First Win Lv2s were delivered to the Thai army. In cooperation with the Malaysian company DefTech, an undisclosed number of Lv2s have been delivered to the Malaysian army in which they are operational. Chaiseri is developing variants of the basic Lv2, namely a wrecker and an ambulance, this latter version to be deployed with a Thai contingent assigned to a UN mission. The vehicle can be customized following the specifications expressed by the customer.

Weighing 12,5 tons, the First Win Lv2 has a maximum payload of 2 tons. It is foreseen to transport 9 passengers on top of the driver. The diesel engine develops 296hp, enabling the vehicle to reach 110km/h on paved roads, with a range of 650 km (fuel tank of 240 liters). The ballistic protection level is STANAG 4569, and STANAG 4569 Lv3b/4a for mine protection. The run-flat tires enable the vehicle to drive about 150km after a puncture.

Thai Defense Technology Institute (DTI) and Thai company Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. Ltd. have founded Thai Defense Industry (TDI) to support exporting of Thailand's local defense industries products (Picture source: AAG)