On August 3, 2023, Chaiseri Defense, a Thai defense company, has been selected as the winner of a competitive procurement process initiated by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The procurement, valued around 448 million baht ($12,918,115), was announced through the Thai Government Procurement System and involves the acquisition of seven 8×8 amphibious armored personnel carriers (AAPCs) to address the operational needs of the RTN.
Through the competitive evaluation, Chaiseri’s proposal emerged as the selected option. The evaluation encompassed a range of design considerations, including the R600 8×8 by Panus Assembly Co., Ltd., and the Ministry of Defense of Thailand’s Defense Technology Institute (DTI) Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (AAPC) 8×8 “Sea Tiger.”
The Naval Acquisition Management Office (NAMO) of the Royal Thai Navy initiated this procurement of seven new 8×8 armored personnel carriers. While specific details of the procurement process are not publicly disclosed, it is believed to follow a framework similar to the previous procurement program involving the Panus R600 in 2021.
As of now, detailed specifications and prototypes of the new 8×8 amphibious armored personnel carriers by Chaiseri Metal and Rubber Co., Ltd have not been publicly disclosed. The 8×8 amphibious armored personnel carriers are expected to offer enhanced operational capabilities, allowing for operation on both land and in water.