27 April 2021
The first stage of assembly and running tests of the BTR-4KSh-T command and staff vehicle based on the BTR-4U chassis took place at the Kyiv Armored Plant KBTZ (part of the Ukroboronprom).
The new KSHM is manufactured in accordance with the technical documentation developed by the company's designers in 2020 and is intended for the assembly of parts and units of the Royal Thai Army.
The BTR-4KSh-T communications department should comfortably accommodate a staff group of 8 officers.
According to the plans, the new KShM will be delivered to the customer in the form of a machine kit by the end of this year.
We will remind, in previous years (from 2008 to 2019) the military of Thailand ordered in Ukraine armored personnel carriers on the basis of BTR-3 which were made at the Kiev armored plant.
Under several contracts totaling more than $ 250 million, the Thai military received more than 200 vehicles of various types based on BTR-3 (product line BTR-3E1, commander BTR-3K, medical BTR-3C, repair and evacuation BTR-ZBR, anti-tank BTR-3RK and mortar BTR-3M1 and BTR-3M2).
It is also known that in early 2019 in Thailand for licensed assembly was delivered the first machine kit KShM BTR-3KSh, which in many respects is similar to the new BTR-4KSh-T.
It should be added that the possible supply of cars based on the BTR-4 in Thailand has been talked about for a long time, but information about fixed contracts has not yet been made public.
In turn, it is known that the BTR-4U licensed assembly plant will soon be built in neighboring Myanmar, Ukrspetsexport reported on the relevant contract in 2020.