Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
03 November 2013
Thailand's state-run defence research and development agency, the Defence Technology Institute (DTi), is developing an 8x8 armoured vehicle that it hopes will become a driver of the country's nascent defence industrial base.
A mock-up of the vehicle - dubbed 'Black Widow Spider' - was unveiled at the opening day of the Defense & Security 2013 exhibition in Bangkok, with DTi officials telling IHS Jane's that the vehicle is positioned to meet Thailand's future requirements in a range of military operations, including reconnaissance, command and control, fire support, and mobility.
The vehicle, which bears a resemblance to Singapore Technologies' Kinetics Terrex infantry carrier vehicle, has been designed by DTi over the past two years and is currently undergoing advanced development in a programme led by DTi and featuring collaboration across Thailand's land-based defence industry base.
