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Thailand Domestic Defense Industry
Before the 1970s, domestic defense production was extremely
limited. Local industrial plants made items such as uniforms,
storage batteries, glassware, preserved foods, some electronic
devices, and certain pharmaceutical and chemical products. The
production of armaments, began on a modest scale in 1969 and
received increasing government assistance. In August 1976, the
Ministry of Defense announced that it had invested more than
US$200 million since 1969 in developing domestic production of
ordnance items. This investment resulted in the local production
of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .30 calibre ammunition. In addition, the
government operated facilities for limited rebuilding and
modernization of military vehicles, aircraft engines, and
helicopters. A modern dockyard provided similar improvements as
well as maintenance on naval vessels and their armaments. Most of
these capabilities were achieved with American technical
assistance.
In December 1977, Prime Minister Kriangsak announced plans to
establish a number of new factories to increase the strength of
the country's arms industry. In particular, he hoped to meet
internal security requirements for ammunition and light weapons.
The industrial expansion called for private as well as
government-owned facilities. The primary vehicle for this was a
privately owned company called Thai Interarms, which received
substantial government aid. Divided into four subunits, the
company manufactured small arms, ammunition, gunpowder, and other
explosives. In addition, a factory established in Ta Khli, a
joint venture between the Thai government and the Winchester
Company of the United States, had a projected production
capability of 1 million tons of ammunition annually, including
rockets.
To strengthen the navy's combat readiness, the government
expanded its naval repair facilities with aid from the United
States, Italy, and
Japan. As a result, Thailand produced a variety of naval vessels,
including six fast coastal patrol boats, and had an LST (landing
ship, tank) under construction in 1987. Despite the ambitious
scope of plans for a domestic defense industry, however,
production failed to reach the levels desired.
Data as of September 1987
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