The government's request to purchase four more Black Hawk helicopters from the US has already been agreed, army chief Chalermchai Sitthisat said Thursday.
He was asked about progress in the air force's procurement plan including the purchase of more Black Hawks, adding to its fleet of 12.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is likely to discuss defence with US President Donald Trump when the pair meet in the US next month.
The helicopters are being bought gradually from this fiscal year until fiscal year 2019, said Gen Chalermchai.
The cabinet approved the procurement plan some time between October and November last year, and the deal has since been acknowledged by the US Congress, he said.
The purchase request was treated as part of the Thai-US military assistance programme and the prices would be similar to those for helicopters bought in the past from the US, he said. A source said the four new helicopters would cost 3 billion baht in total, or 750 million baht each.
The air force has previously expressed an intention to acquire a full fleet of 16 helicopters mainly for airlifting its forces. The air force previously had only 12 helicopters in its so-called strategic operation fleet.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikulya the army chief will be able to explain the army's procurement of two AW 139 helicopters at a cost of 1.4 million baht approved by him when he served as assistant army chief. Isra News Agency published an article saying Gen Chatchai approved this particular helicopter procurement plan only 65 days after May 22, 2014, the day the coup took place.
Gen Chatchai said that was a normal process and the approval was in line with bureaucratic regulations, which he was sure the army could help explain.