"Ukraine exporting new tanks to Thailand" Topic

Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree said on Thursday (February 27) that the Army's procurement of OPLOT tanks from Ukraine is a government-to-government (G2G) project under which government agencies of both parties have entered into the contract and are responsible as joint operators…

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OPLOT tanks?

Ukraine has surplus tanks?

Hi Bill,

Per Wiki:

The Royal Thai Army has received 31 T-84 Oplot-T and an additional 5 were expected in November 2017.[12] In March 2011, the Royal Thai Army placed an order for 49 T-84s to replace its fleet of aging M41A3 Walker Bulldog light tanks. The government has approved 7.155 billion baht to purchase the first 49 Oplot tanks to be assigned to several units: the 2nd Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Fort Chakrabongse, Prachinburi), the 4th Cavalry battalion (Royal Guard at Kiakkai, Bangkok), the 8th Cavalry battalion (Fort Suranari, Nakhon Ratchasima), and the 9th Cavalry battalion (Fort Ekathotsarot, Phitsanuloke).[16][17][18] In April 2017, it was reported that following the delayed deliveries from this tank, the Royal Thai Army had declined the remainder of the sale and acquired the Chinese VT-4 main battle tank instead of the Ukrainian tank, due to the long term delivery schedule.[19][20][21][22] The signed order for 49 units has to be completed by the month of January, 2017, it was reported that other deliveries may not be expected.[23] A 26 March 2018 press release by Ukroboronprom stated that the 2011 contract for supplying Oplot-T tanks to Thailand had successfully completed and that the last party of tanks had passed checks by the customers and would be sent to the buyer in the near future.[24]

The Ukrainian army is concentrating on getting the hundreds of old T-64s, T-72s and T-80s from storage refurbished before getting any new production units.

Also, IIRC they withdrew their modernised T-64 BM Bulat from front-line service due to inferior performance a couple of years back.