Keeping AFVs on the road

Thursday, 19 June, 2008

Significant cost savings can be achieved by making detailed improvements to existing fleets of armoured vehicles, trucks and trailers. This is an area of expertise in which Thailand’s Chaiseri company (Stand O150b) has specialised for many years, supplying not only the Royal Thai armed forces but also achieving exports to 35 countries.
Although known primarily for the design and production of rubber track shoes to replace heavier and worn metal AFV components, Chaiseri also refurbishes and upgrades such vehicles by producing new road wheels in aluminium or steel. The expertise of the company covers AFV and other vehicle products of the US, China, France, Germany, the UK and Russia, often extending the useful life of original equipment that might otherwise be destined for scrap.
Major cost savings for stretched defence budgets have been achieved by the remanufacture of 0.25-tonne all-terrain vehicles, as well as the conversion of M 602 trucks from gasoline to M 35 standard fitted with a diesel engine.