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Published on November 26, 2007

The decision was reached after the two-day annual strategy conference of the armed forces, chaired by Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Boonrawd said procurements, if approved, would be made in two phases. The first phase would begin in 2009 and the second in 2014.

Key commanders from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Supreme Command and ministry attended the conference.

Boonrawd said the military would propose two options for the next government to consider - approve procurement packages or increase budget allocations to the military for the arms purchases.

In the first option, Boonrawd said the military would ask the government to increase military spending from 1.58 per cent of GDP to 1.8 per cent for the first five years and to 2 per cent for the second.

In the second option, the armed forces would submit two packages of proposed procurement for each phase.

In the first, the military would request Bt117 billion and another Bt200 billion in the second.

Boonrawd said top priority for the Navy was a submarine, while the Air Force wanted to buy new fighter jets.

He said the Army wanted to increase battle readiness in the three Southern border provinces.

Boonrawd said the Navy needed a submarine to help with shared patrols with Malaysia, Singapore, Indo-nesia and Vietnam in the Strait of Malacca. These countries already have submarines, he said.

The defence minister admitted that spending would depend on the next government.

"We are simply laying the groundwork for the next government to consider. We have made detailed budget requests for what we want in the first five years," Boonrawd said.

Panya Tiwsangwan

The Nation

Nakhon Pathom