Ukraine partners Thailand on production of BTR-3KSH AFV

Ukrainian state-owned defence industrial group UkrOboronProm has announced a partnership with Thailand through which the Southeast Asian country will build a new command version of the BTR-3 8 × 8 armoured fighting vehicle (AFV).

Citing director general Pavlo Bukin, UkrOboronProm said in a statement on its website on 25 July that it has sent to Thailand the “first machine kit” of its BTR-3KSH that will be produced locally under licence.

UkrOboronProm did not state how many vehicles would be produced in Thailand, nor did it provide any details about deal supporting the arrangement. Thai officials have not commented on the development.

Ukraine’s UkrOboronProm has sent a machine kit version of its BTR-3KSH (which is similar to BTR-3E1 pictured here) to Thailand for local production. (Ukrspecexport)

“We view this export supply as a marker of [our] deepening co-operation with Thailand, Ukraine’s strategic partner in Southeast Asia,” Bukin said in the UkrOboronProm statement. “Ukraine has serious prospects in this direction and we must use [this collaboration with Thailand] in our national interests.”

Bukin added that the licenced production of the BTR-3KSH is linked to a framework agreement signed by Thailand and Ukraine “a few years ago”. This accord would cover the local production of the BTR-3E1 AFV as well as vehicle modifications and the provision of related support services, he noted.

Bukin said that production of the BTR-3KSH will be facilitated by the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), a research, development and industrial agency under the Thai Ministry of Defence (MoD).