The Royal Thai Army yesterday received the first batch of US-made Stryker armoured infantry carriers.
Army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong received the 10 Strykers from Gen Robert Brown, the US Army Pacific commander, at the Royal Thai Army headquarters in Bangkok.
The troop carriers will be stationed at the 11th Infantry Regiment, whose modern weaponry and lean workforce are a model for other army barracks, according to the army.
The army struck a deal to buy 37 "refurbished" US-made Strykers for US$80 million (2.4 billion baht). Under the contract, the US Army will deliver 23 more Strykers, bringing the total to 60.
The first two armoured personnel carriers arrived on a Starlifter aircraft at Don Mueang Air Force base on Aug 29. The remainder will be delivered by the end of this year.
Gen Apirat said the US is also providing technical assistance in the repair and maintenance of the vehicles.
Originally manufactured by the Michigan-based General Dynamics Land Systems, the 60 Strykers saw US service before being assigned as reserve armaments and then sold as surplus.
The deals come amid efforts by the Thai military to balance its defence relations between its long-time ally, the US, and rising Asian powerhouse China.
The Royal Thai Navy announced this week it will buy a landing platform dock from China to improve its amphibious operations abilities and take some of the load off HTMS Angthong, currently the only naval vessel with this capacity.