Pheu Thai MP regarding Bangkok Anudit Nakhonthap has called for a probe into the Royal Thai Navy’s planned procurement of Israeli-made unmanned aerial automobiles (UAVs) worth over 4 billion baht.
He says the terms associated with reference (ToR) for the procurement go against the initial purpose of a budget demand.
Team Captain Anudit, exactly who sits on a Home committee on anti-corruption, said yesterday which he raised the issue throughout a debate on the 2023 budget bill.
He said the navy requested a budget to buy 3 UAVs armed with weapons, but its ToR failed to include procurement associated with weapons for the UAVs.
This individual said when he or she checked the Durchgang detailed in a statement from the Defence Technology Institute under the Protection Ministry, he discovered the navy’s budget for the UAV procurement was higher than that proposed by the company by 400%.
The institute proposed the price for three UAVs at about nine hundred million baht, he said.
After the debate, a navy’s spokesman declared that under the ToR, the navy plans to buy seven UAVs with no weapons, worth more than 4 billion baht, compared to about 2 billion baht for seven UAVs because suggested by the institute, Gg Capt Anudit said.
He said the original purpose of the navy’s budget request had been to buy three UAVs fitted with weapons.
”But after parliament accepted the budget request, the particular navy will buy seven UAVs with out weapons which are not ready for combat. Really does this go against the initial purpose which the navy blue explained to parliament? ” Gp Capt Anudit said.
He added that will Gen Worakiat Ratananant, permanent secretary pertaining to defence, approved the procurement of the 7 UAVs on 06 30, and it was also endorsed by the Comptroller General’s Department.
In light of the, Gp Capt Anudit said he will inquire the House committee to launch an immediate probe into the issue.
Vice Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin, navy spokesman, previously said navy got chosen seven Hermes 900 UAVs through Elbit Systems, a worldwide defence electronics company based in Israel. The firm offered the particular non-tariff price of US$120 million (4 billion dollars baht).
The procurement contract will be drafted with a committee before being presented to the commander-in-chief Adm Somprasong Nilsamai. The navy, Elbit Systems Ltd and the National Anti-Corruption Commission rate will be the three signatories to the procurement agreement, Vice Adm Pokkrong said.