TSAMTO, November 25. The Government of Bhutan has accepted 15 new light multipurpose armored vehicles "First Win" (First Win) with a 4x4 wheel formula purchased in Thailand, which will be used by the contingent of the country's Armed Forces in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa.
According to the Bangkok Post, armored vehicles manufactured by the Thai company Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co were handed over on November 19 by the Deputy Minister of Defense of Thailand, General Chaichan Changmongkol, to the Ambassador of Bhutan to Thailand, Kinzang Dorji.
The equipment will be used by the peacekeeping contingent of the Armed Forces of Bhutan, which is to be deployed in the Central African Republic.
The Minister of Defense of Thailand, General Vorakiat Rattananont, said that Bhutan chose the First Vin armored vehicle taking into account the price-quality ratio, as well as the capabilities of Chaiseri.
It is reported that the total cost of armored vehicles amounted to 225 million Thai baht ($6.8 million) or about 15 million baht per unit.
Bhutan became the fourth country to receive First Win armored vehicles after Thailand, Malaysia (as AV4 "Lipanbara") and Indonesia.
The supply of equipment to Bhutan has caused criticism of the command of the Thai Armed Forces, which does not purchase a national-made BBM. So, according to the Bangkok Post, in 2019, the contingent of the Thai Armed Forces was planned to be sent to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Chaiseri developed an armored ambulance for this operation and offered it to the armed forces, but the command refused, citing the lack of funds for this decision. The offer to transfer the equipment free of charge was also rejected.
"First Vin" with a 4x4 wheel formula belongs to the MRAP class. It has a body with a V-shaped bottom and provides mine protection that meets the requirements of STANAG-4569 Level.3B, and ballistic, conforming to the requirements of STANAG-4569 Level.2. The BBM can be equipped with a turret with weapons or a remotely controlled module.
