The Royal Thai Army has just ordered 10 more VT-4 main battle tanks built by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) in a deal worth $58 million. Thailand is the only operator of this tank in the world.

The VT4, also known as the MBT3000, is a third generation main battle tank built by Norinco for export to developing countries. It's the latest tank model from the Type 90-II tank family.

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Thailand's cabinet, which is controlled by the Royal Thai Armed Forces following a coup d'etat on May 22, 2014 by Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, approved the deal to buy the tanks. Chan-o-cha is now Thailand's prime minister.

This new order will be the second after an earlier batch of 28 tanks was ordered in 2016.  Thailand might acquire up to 150 VT-4s. Each VT-4 is said to cost $3 million.

The VT-4s will replace the army's ageing M41A3 Walker Bulldogs, which were first produced for the U.S. Army in the early 1950s.

The 52 ton VT-4 incorporates technology from the Type-99A, the main MBT operated by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It's armed with a 125 mm smoothbore gun also capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles.

The gun is fed by an automatic loader holding 22 rounds. It has a rate of fire of eight rounds per minute. VT-4 can carry 38 rounds of ammunition for its 125 mm gun.

It also has a remote weapon station on the turret armed with a heavy machine gun. The tank is protected by composite and explosive reactive armor. The turret front has wedge shaped armor and the hull sides have armored side skirts.

VT-4 is equipped with the GL5 active protection system (APS); defensive grenade launchers and a laser warning device.

The tank has a maximum road speed of 70 km/h and a maximum cruising range of 500 km. 

TagsRoyal Thai Army, VT-4 main battle tanks, China North Industries Corporation, Norinco, Thailand, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha