Thailand - Domestic Defense Industry

Before the 1970s, domestic defense production was extremely limited. Local industrial plants made items such as uniforms, storage batteries, glassware, preserved foods, some electronic devices, and certain pharmaceutical and chemical products. The production of armaments, began on a modest scale in 1969 and received increasing government assistance. In August 1976, the Ministry of Defense announced that it had invested more than US$200 million since 1969 in developing domestic production of ordnance items. This investment resulted in the local production of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .30 calibre ammunition. In addition, the government operated facilities for limited rebuilding and modernization of military vehicles, aircraft engines, and helicopters. A modern dockyard provided similar improvements as well as maintenance on naval vessels and their armaments. Most of these capabilities were achieved with American technical assistance. In December 1977, Prime Minister Kriangsak announced plans to establish a number of new factories to increase the strength of the country's arms industry. In particular, he hoped to meet internal security requirements for ammunition and light weapons. The industrial expansion called for private as well as government-owned facilities. The primary vehicle for this was a privately owned company called Thai Interarms, which received substantial government aid. Divided into four subunits, the company manufactured small arms, ammunition, gunpowder, and other explosives. In addition, a factory established in Ta Khli, a joint venture between the Thai government and the Winchester Company of the United States, had a projected production capability of 1 million tons of ammunition annually, including rockets. To strengthen the navy's combat readiness, the government expanded its naval repair facilities with aid from the United States, Italy, and Japan. As a result, Thailand produced a variety of naval vessels, including six fast coastal patrol boats, and had an LST (landing ship, tank) under construction in 1987. Despite the ambitious scope of plans for a domestic defense industry, however, production failed to reach the levels desired. Data as of September 1987

Thailand looks to defence industry collaboration in frigate procurement

By Jon Grevatt

9/25/2012

Defence industrial collaboration will be a key consideration in Thailand's USD1 billion programme to procure two modern frigates over the next few years, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has revealed to IHS Jane's .

Funds for the frigate purchase were approved by the Thai cabinet on 18 September. The programme had been delayed by more than a decade due to a shortage of funds but finally received government support on the back of economic expansion in the Southeast Asian country and a growing RTN requirement to enhance combat capability.

A senior source within the RTN, who is involved in acquisitions, said the programme provides Thailand with an opportunity to not only procure "world-class" frigates but also develop a high level of industry capability that will benefit the RTN.

He also said that following cabinet approval of the funds the RTN has formed a frigate committee to identify the most suitable platforms for Thailand's needs and to formalise a potential industrial collaboration programme that would benefit local industry. The committee is expected to issue request-for-information documents soon and submit its plan to government by the end of the year or in early 2013.

ASEAN Defense: Thai military guided public defense industry unit, targets “Arms Export” in two years

By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

Matichon, a newspaper for the intellect here in Thailand, just reported that the Thai military guided, public defense industry unit, is targeting to be able to export internal-Thailand developed arms equipment-within two years.
Matichon gave an array of equipment that the Thai military public unit is working on-including a few cutting-edge tropical area specifics infantry soldier equipment-on exhibition in last week local arms industry show.
Mentioned, was also, rockets and missiles, however, based on earlier reports of Thailand’s advancement in rockets and missiles development-these equipment were not on exhibition.
Germany, through the Thai German Technical Assistance Program, have signed an agreement with the Thai arms manufacturing public unit-for transfer of technology. The unit, established by Taksin, aims mainly to produce advance missiles.
Within ASEAN, Indonesia is most active in developing a local arms industry, having signed agreement with S.Korea, for fighter jest and submarine development. Malaysia is also active in the area.
Thai prime minster, Yingluck, said in the Thai parliament, that developing Thailand’s local arms industry, is one of her policy. ASEAN recently, proposed a paper on building up of an ASEAN arms industry.

Thailand will focus on building-up “Internal” arms industry

By Stingray, Thai Intel’s national security journalist

• The Issue:

ASEAN as a whole, particularly, Indonesia and Malaysia-have been building up a local defense industry-with last year, ASEAN making statements about jointly-developing an ASEAN Defense industry. However, out-side ASEAN defense industry, through lobbying and corruption, have held much of the ASEAN market in control.
Thai Intel just got a comment, from Aldo, on an earlier report about Indonesian internal submarine development efforts:

“Indonesia also successfully built LPD Makassar class in cooperation with SKorea. They even try to sell it to Philippines… In addition to that, they are now involved in research and production of stealth KFX jet fighters with SKorea…it seems that Indonesia has a long perspective in building their defense system in relation to local economic development.”

• Back-Ground on Thailand:

For a background, Thailand have had a burgeoning private local arms industry for a very long time-with local development of armored personal carriers. Then the Thai armed forces have long invested in building artillery pieces and also multiple-rocket launchers-and also small naval patrol vessels.
However, Thailand joined the modern age in development of a local arms industry-when Taksin, the former prime minister who was ouster by the 2006 coup, establishing and giving budget to the development of a local “Missile” industry. That missile unit, eventually, received aid from Germany.

• The following is from Thai Intel’s earlier report:

The Thai missile research and development unit main mission is a 5 year plan to develop Thailand missile capabilities-with a budget said open-ended on top of about US$70 million initial public stated release figures.
The unit had completed its first factory in Nakornsawan province.
The unit is currently experimenting with solid fuels and guidance systems.
Test site is considered to be at the former Vietnam War era naval base at Sattahep-with targets site in the gulf of Thailand. Estimates is that within 1 a year test would begin-as reports said new know-how is supplementing long built up know-how in basic guidance systems and rocket fuels.
The current German government is considered close to the Thai government. An arms catch in Bangkok included moderately advance missiles-to which no one claims and is on hold in Thailand.
US Congress had in the past rejected Thailand request to purchase sophisticated missiles-based on concerns that Thailand would pass on the technology to China and on concerns of equipping Thailand with such advance defense capabilities