The Defence Ministry aims to make the country self-sufficient in producing weapons and armaments and has ordered the production of five Amphibious Armoured Personnel Carriers (AAPC) worth 150 million baht each from the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), according to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Gen Prawit said he plans to make the defence industry a priority during his tenure as defence minister.
The country should be able to produce its own weapons and armaments as well as build armament construction and maintenance centres.
He was speaking at the opening of the Defence and Security Exhibition 2017, which will run until tomorrow.
The event holds regional significance as it showcases a comprehensive list of modern weapons and armaments and related technology from many countries.
The exhibition also includes a display of technology used in disaster mitigation.
Hailing the exhibition a success, Gen Prawit thanked representatives and weapons-makers from participating countries.
The deputy premier also held talks with his counterparts from Singapore, Ukraine and South Africa, which are among the countries joining the event.
He said this year's exhibition was even bigger in scale than the one last year. Thailand did not expect to clinch deals with participating countries.
The country's defence industry is looking to collaborate with China once a law on such cooperation passes the National Legislative Assembly.
The legislation might be ready some time next year, according to Gen Prawit.
If and when the project to produce weapons and build armaments comes to fruition, the armed forces will buy their weapons supplies locally.
However, Gen Prawit insisted the supplies sourced domestically must be cheaper than foreign brands.
The AAPCs that he ordered from the DTI were displayed at the exhibit yesterday.
With a body the size of a car, AAPCs can carry troops and float on water.
Modelled after the 8x8 Black Widow Spider armoured vehicle, they are equipped with a chassis that supports a gun turret.
