Thai company Chaiseri Metal and Rubber has secured its first international export contract after winning the Philippine Navy competition to supply the AWAV 8×8 amphibious armored vehicle to the Philippine Marine Corps.
The initial order includes five units, with deliveries scheduled by 2027, beating proposals submitted by manufacturers from South Korea, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
The tender was launched to acquire 8×8 armored vehicles intended for peacekeeping operations, with a budget of approximately US$8 million. The requirements called for Level 2 protection under NATO’s STANAG 4569 standard and armament consisting only of a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, allowing different manufacturers to participate and reducing the estimated cost to around US$1.6 million per vehicle.
Designed for amphibious operations, the AWAV 8×8 meets the needs of the Philippines, a country made up of more than 7,000 islands. The armored vehicle can leave ships directly, sail toward the coast using waterjets and continue operating on land without configuration changes. Equipped with a 711-horsepower engine, the vehicle reaches up to 105 km/h on land and 10 km/h in the water, has a range of around 600 kilometers and can carry up to 14 military personnel, including the crew.
Before the international sale, the AWAV had already been incorporated by the Royal Thai Navy, which received 14 units for its marine corps. The model underwent long-duration tests on land and at sea, as well as evaluations on difficult terrain, factors that reinforced its credibility during the competition. The acquisition is part of the Philippines’ military modernization process, as the country seeks to strengthen its ability to operate in maritime areas amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.
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Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @ThaiArmedForce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
