The fifth batch of Ukrainian Oplot tanks was delivered to Thailand
Ukraine has provided the fifth batch of new Oplot-T battle tanks consisting of five machines built at the Malyshev Factory as part of the $240 million contract signed in 2011.
The fifth shipment of Oplots arrived from Ukraine by sea at the Sattahip naval base, according to Interfax-Ukraine. According to the agency, the shipment of armored vehicles was shipped to the Thai customer in March. The next shipment, the sixth is planned for June. The contract is due to be completed by autumn 2017.
The Oplot was adopted by the Armed Forces in May 2009. In 2011, a contract was signed for the delivery of 49 tanks to Thailand and in April 2012 the state-owned Malyshev Factory, began fulfilling the contract.
The total expenses for the production of the Oplot tanks were $30 million, according to the plant estimates. The first five tanks were shipped to the Thai customer in the beginning of 2014, the second shipment of five armored vehicles arrived in Thailand in mid-2015, the third shipment of 10 vehicles in May 2016, and the fourth shipment consisting of five tanks was sent to Thailand in November 2016.
In March, the publication AUTO-Consulting reported that Thailand decided to purchase Chinese VT4 tanks instead of the Ukrainian Oplot. Ukrainian state-owned defense concern Ukroboronprom denied this information.