The 28 main battle tanks bought from China for 4.9 billion baht are definitey not old models and their early delivery is a benefit of business competitiveness, army chief Chalermchai Sittisad said on Wednesday.
The 28 VT4 tanks arrived by sea at the navy's Thung Prong port at Sattahip in Chon Buri province on Monday.
Their delivery was six months ahead of schedule, but that was the result of business competitiveness. They were not superceded models as some people wrongly thought, Gen Chalermchai said.
The quick delivery was an extra benefit for the army, he said.
The army chief said that last year, when he was an assistant army chief, he had visited China to inspect the production of the tanks. The newly procured tanks were fully efficient.
The army had ordered 10 more of the VT4s this year and will order another 10 next year.
The delivered tanks were taken to the Cavalry Division Centre in Saraburi province for installation of communications equipment and inspection before official acceptance, Gen Chalermchai said.
Afterwards, the media would be invited to view the new tanks, he said.
Earlier report: First batch of 28 China-made tanks rolls in