According to a Bangkok Post newspaper of June 2017, the government of Thailand planned to purchase 34 wheeled armored vehicles VN-1 from China for an amount of 2.3 billion baht ($2.57 million). The plan included also the purchase of S26T Yuan-class submarine from China worth 13.5 billion baht (around $15 million) which would be included in the army's fiscal budget for 2017-2021. The purchase request for Chinese-made VN-1 armored vehicles was submitted to the Defence Ministry, which forwarded it to the cabinet for approval. According to three pictures published by ipbhost.com, the Royal Thai Army has only last February officially inducted these NORINCO VN-1 IFVs with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment
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Royal Thai Army inducts NORINCO VN-1 IFV with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Picture source: ipbhost.com)
Ten VT-4 main battle tanks (or MBT-3000 in Chinese nomenclature) – the final lot of the total of about 50 units – and 38 VN-1 IFVs, among other military equipment, arrived on Dec.3, 2019, from China at a port in Chonburi province, southeast of Bangkok. All these vehicles were brought to the Adisorn Cavalry Center in Saraburi province for inspection.
The VN-1 is an 8x8 armored vehicle designed and manufactured by the Chinese Defense company NORINCO. It is the export version of the ZBL-09, which is motorized with a 440 hp diesel engine. The hull of the VN-1 is made of high-hardness armor steel that provides protection against the firing of small arms and shell splinters. In APC configuration, the VN1 can carry 10 military personnel: driver, commander, gunner and 7 infantrymen. The vehicle can be fitted with a wide range of armaments up to 30mm automatic cannon and HJ-73D anti-tank missile.
The VN-1 is motorized with a water-cooled diesel engine Deutz BF6M1051CP coupled to a mechanical transmission. It can reach 100 km/h, with a maximum cruising range of 800 km. The vehicle is fully amphibious; its propellers enable it to reach 8 km/h.
Royal Thai Army inducts NORINCO VN-1 IFV with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Picture source: ipbhost.com)
