Another batch of the Ukrainian-made Oplot main battle tanks will be supplied under the contract to Thailand next week, chief engineer at Kharkiv-based Malyshev Plant Oleksandr Sheiko told journalists on May 25.
”We will ship another batch to Thailand next week. Information on the amount [of tanks] is confidential. We have fulfilled three quarters of the contract,” Sheiko said.
Earlier, on January 3, certain media outlets reported on the decision of the military leadership of Thailand to terminate the Oplot contract with Ukraine because at that time the customer had only received 20 tanks out of 49, with the contract term expiring in October 2017. The reports suggested that the Thai military opt in favor of Chinese VT-4 tanks.
Representatives of the Malyshev Plant refuted the reports and instead announced preparations for the shipment of another batch of the Ukrainian tanks to Thailand.
The contract on the supply of 49 Oplot tanks to Thailand, worth US$250 million, was signed in 2011. The management of Ukraine`s state-run Ukroboronprom Concern has repeatedly reported difficulties in the production process, choosing to engage in production Ukraine`s private enterprises.
