Thailand receives first prototype of Black Widow Spider 8x8 armored vehicle

The Black Widow Spider APC. Photo c/o Defence Technology Institute.

The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has received the first Black Widow Spider 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carrier from the Thailand Defence Technology Institute during ceremonies held at the Infantry Center in Fort Thanarat, Prachuap Khiri Khan province on 9 July 2020.

The vehicle, which was indigenously built by Preecha Thavorn Industrial Co. Ltd., will serve as a working prototype for testing in field conditions by the RTA. 

It also features further improvement compared to the vehicle that was shown to the public last year during the International Defense and Security Equipment expo in Bangkok.

The vehicle is equipped with a Singaporean company ST Engineering’s Addem DM 40/50 stabilized remote weapon station, which mounts an STK 40 AGL 40x53mm automatic grenade launcher and an STK 50MG .50 caliber heavy machine gun, as well as 6 smoke grenade launchers. It also has a thermal imaging camera for day and night operations.

The vehicle was meant to replace older armored vehicles in RTA service, in addition to the acquisition of other imported wheeled armored vehicles like the Strkyer Infantry Combat Vehicles from the US, and BTR-3E1 infantry fighting vehicles from Ukraine.

It is not yet known how many vehicles will the RTA acquire should the vehicle be approved for serial production.


[1] Thailand Defence Technology Insitute
[2] AAG_TH Journal Defense Page