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20 Sep 16. Thailand makes progress on bid to build Ukrainian BTR-3E1 APCs. Ukraine and Thailand are moving head with plans to collaborate on the 8×8 BTR-3E1 armoured personnel carrier (APC), IHS Jane’s understands.
Senior Thai defence officials recently visited the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (NSDCU) for talks on the collaborative programme, which is aimed at supporting Thailand’s production of the vehicles.
Sources in Bangkok have also confirmed that Thailand intends to build the vehicles to meet the requirements of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and to support regional exports. A local facility in Thailand would also support the BTR-3E1s already in operation by the RTA. The RTA ordered in 2008 and 2011 more than 220 BTR-3E1s, which are being manufactured by the Kharkov Morozov Machine Design Bureau.
The NSDCU, an advisory body under the President of Ukraine, said in a press release published on 16 September that its deputy secretary Oleg Hladkovskyy met with a delegation led by Thailand’s deputy defence minister General Udomdej Sitabutr to discuss expanding military-technical collaboration between the two countries.
The NSDCU said that this will be partly focused on technology transfers to support the Ukraine’s continuing deliveries of BM Oplot main battle tanks (MBTs) that the RTA ordered in 2011 for USD240m. Another area of priority, said the NSDCU, is to co-operate on Thailand’s planned production of BTR-3E1s, which will also require transfers of technologies and know-how.
“In the context of co-operation the Ukrainian side confirmed its readiness to support the development of Thailand’s production of armoured vehicles, including the BTR-3E1 with the transfer of technologies,” said the press release.
IHS Jane’s understands from industry sources that the proposed plan to build the BTR-3E1 in Thailand has several phases and would involve the RTA’s production units.
The first phase would feature the assembly of the BTR-3E1 from kits supplied by Ukraine. This would be followed by the RTA’s manufacture of components and subassemblies, leading to full production of the vehicle.
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
19 Sep 16. AAD 2016: ICP rolls out new REVA variants. Integrated Convoy Protection (ICP) has developed new versions of its REVA (Reliable, Effective, Versatile, and Affordable) mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles. More than 800 vehicles have been built for the export market and all platforms feature an all-welded steel monocoque hull, with a v-shaped lower half designed to enhance protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IED). Baseline ballistic protection is to level B7 but higher levels are available.
Among the new variants is an ambulance, which has a raised roof line to the rear of the commander and driver in order to provide for greater internal volume for its specialised role.
Provision is made for four stretchers, two stretchers and four seated patients, or eight seated patients.
As the vehicle is high off the ground, an extendable ramp is provided at the rear to allow for quicker loading and unloading of patients. When not required this is stowed under the hull of the vehicle. The latest version – the REVA V – is being marketed with standard rigid or independent suspension, plus a central tyre inflation system.
This also has a wider hull, increasing the internal volume; in addition to the commander and driver it can carry six or eight dismounts; its protection against land mines is rated as STANAG 4569 Level 4B.
The REVA VI is a 6×6 armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) with a fully protected air-conditioned cab for its crew of two, plus two additional seats for the crew of the vehicle being recovered.
Mounted to the rear is the manually operated recovery equipment, which has a rec