Pakistan has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Thai government to procure 100 Chaiseri First Win Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
The agreement stipulates a transfer-of-technology scheme allowing project partners Thai Defence Industry and Heavy Industries Taxila to partially produce the 4×4 system on Pakistani soil.
A commercial contract is expected to formalize the acquisition at a bilateral meeting later this year or at the Pakistani Trade Development Authority’s international military convention this November in Karachi, according to news agency Quwa.
Thailand enters into an agreement with #Pakistan to provide the #PakistanArmy with 100 MRAP vehicles.
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes. @OfficialDGISPR #ISPR pic.twitter.com/4z1DWkr4Qy
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) October 30, 2024
Pathum Thani-based Chaiseri designed the First Win armored vehicle for the Royal Thai Army in 2010. Bangkok ordered the platform’s initial batch in 2012.
In addition to Thai warfighters, the system is currently employed across the Malaysian Army, Indonesian Army, and other UN peacekeeping missions in the Eastern Himalayas under the Kingdom of Bhutan.
In 2024, Thai Defence Industry CEO and Chaiseri Vice President Nopparat Kulhiran mentioned that the Philippines plans to purchase approximately 900 First Wins.
The First Win MRAP
Chaiseri’s First Win MRAP has an all-welded, v-hull chassis to enhance soldier protection against explosives in the field.
Depending on its variant, the platform measures up to 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) long and weighs up to 12,500 kilograms (27,558 pounds).
The vehicle is covered by NATO-standard armor that can withstand blasts from grenades to 155-millimeter artillery and is equipped with mounted and heavy machine guns as well as an automatic grenade launcher.
It is motorized by an Allison automatic transmission and a Cummins diesel engine with up to 330 horsepower for a top speed of 110 kilometers (68 miles) per hour.
First Win has capacity for up to 10 passengers.
