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Thai junta buys new Russian made helicopters. Since coup Thai Junta spent 85 percent of country’s cash reserves



Mil Mi-17V-5


Thai junta buys new Russian made helicopters


November 12, 2017
Source: Bangkok Jack


Russia signed a contract with Thailand in September on the delivery of two Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters, Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation Mikhail Petukhov told TASS on Tuesday.

The defense official is heading the Russian delegation at the Defense & Security 2017 arms show in Bangkok.

“A contract was signed in September 2017 on the delivery of two Mi-17V-5 helicopters in the interests of the Royal Thai Army. Further on, the talk can be about a batch of rotorcraft,” Petukhov said.

Russia and Thailand also signed an inter-governmental agreement in September on military and technical cooperation, he added.

Mi-8MTV-5/Mi-17V-5 helicopters are designed to transport passengers and cargoes and can be used to conduct rescue operations and carry armament.

Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport has offered Kamov Ka-52 and Mi-35M rotorcraft for a tender announced by Thailand for the purchase of attack helicopters, Petukhov said.

“The Thai side announced a tender in September for the delivery of attack helicopters. Rosoboronexport is participating in this tender with Ka-52 and Mi-35M helicopters,” the defense official said.

Russia intends to participate in all of Thailand’s tenders for the purchase of military products, including naval hardware, he noted.

The Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ reconnaissance and combat helicopter is designed to destroy tanks, armored and non-armored combat vehicles, manpower, helicopters and other hostile aircraft on the frontline and in tactical depth, in any weather conditions and at any time of day or night.

The Mi-35M transport and attack helicopter is designed to destroy the armor and provide fire support for land troops, and also to transport personnel, evacuate the wounded, carry cargoes and perform other missions.

The helicopter is fitted with cutting-edge precision weapons and is capable of accomplishing combat missions round the clock and in any weather conditions.

The international Asian Defense & Security 2017 arms show is taking place in Bangkok on November 6-9.

The defense exhibition has been held under the patronage of the government and the Defense Ministry of Thailand since 1985, traditionally bringing together the leading producers and customers of weapon systems and military equipment for the ground forces and the navy, aircraft and air defense means. – TASS

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Thai Junta spent 85 percent of country’s cash reserves since coup



Money in long-dormant accounts is estimated at about 10 billion baht ($302 million)


February 8, 2017
Bangkok Jack


The military government has spent 85 percent of the funds that the Thai government had in reserves since the junta took control just three years ago.

However, despite blowing through nearly all of Thailand’s savings in just a few short years, on Monday the Finance Minister said that the government is not going broke.

Read – PM denies the government is broke

Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong shared the startling fact that the country has only THB75 billion in reserves. However, Decharut Sukkumnoed, an economics professor at Kasetsart University, noted that the government had THB495 billion when the junta seized power in 2014.

Apisak actually said, “Having a high treasury balance is a burden on the government” since, in his mind, large savings means that the country may pay higher interest on loans and that a massive reduction in savings means that the country is using loans less, reported Khaosod English.

He said that the spending was purposeful but many people doubted this and view the new tax on plane fuel and proposed soda tax as desperate governmental attempts to raise the reserves.

The current reserves are the lowest the country has seen in more than a decade. Even in the last ten years, the second lowest savings the country had was almost double what is currently held at THB142.7 billion in 2007.

When these facts came to light Monday, PM Prayuth Chan-ocha was angry at the spending accusations and pointed the finger at farmers, flood victims and others that have asked for financial assistance from the government.

As it stands now, the current approved budget shows that the government will see a loss of THB390 billion for 2017.

-Bangkok Coconuts