Philippine Navy selects Chaiseri amphibious vehicle

Chaiseri's AWAV is seen displayed at the Defense & Security show in Bangkok in 2023. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)

The Philippine Navy has awarded Thai company Chaiseri a contract to supply Armoured Wheeled Amphibious Vehicles (AWAVs), marking the platform's first export sale.

The award was confirmed to Janes by Chaiseri on 7 July. A company official said the deal – worth PHP389 million (USD6.8 million) – covers an initial five vehicles. The programme could expand in a future phase, although this has not been confirmed.

A Philippine Navy notice of award issued to Chaiseri in late June said the vehicles would be deployed by the Philippine Marine Corps' Peacekeeping Operations Group. This unit, headquartered at Fort Bonifacio in Manila, is primarily deployed in UN peacekeeping missions and related security and force-protection duties.

The Philippine Navy award follows Chaiseri's supply of AWAVs to the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC), which remains the platform's only operator.

The company has secured two AWAV orders from the RTMC. A THB448 million contract awarded in 2023 covered the supply of seven vehicles, which were delivered in September 2024, followed by a THB504 million contract awarded in 2026 for a further seven platforms.

Chaiseri unveiled the AWAV at the Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok following a development programme undertaken in collaboration with the RTMC. Janes understands that RTMC-operated AWAVs are deployed from the Royal Thai Navy's Type 071E landing platform dock (LPD), providing a ship-to-shore amphibious assault capability.