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ข่าวจากหนังสือพิมพ์บางกอกโพสรายงานว่ากองทัพบกอาจะยินยอมรับมอบเรือเหาะตรวจการณ์รุ่น A40D SkyDargon ซึ่งมีปัญหามาโดยตลอดตั้งแต่เข้าทำการบินทดสอบในพื้นที่ โดยแหล่งข่าวในกองทัพบกเผยว่าในการทดสอบเที่ยวล่าสุดพบว่าเรือเหาะสามารถบินได้ในความสูงที่ต้องการ แต่แหล่งข่าวยังให้ความเห็นเรื่องค่าใช้จ่ายในการปฏิบัติการที่ค่อนข้างสูงและคณะกรรมมาธิการทหารของสภาผู้แทนราษฏรยังคงขอให้กองทัพบกชี้แจงถึงการจัดหาในครั้งนี้
สมาชิก TAF ทุกท่านสามารถพูดคุยและแสดงความเห็นเกี่ยวกับโครงการเรือเหาะนี้ได้ไม่ว่าจะเป็นความเห็นสนับสนุนหรือคัดค้านในเว็บบอร์ดตามกระทู้ด้านล่างนี้
"MERGE: รายละเอียดเรือเหาะของทบ./ข้อวิจารณ์ด้านความเหมาะสม"
http://www.thaiarmedforce.com/distribution/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=393
SOUTH
Airship deal expected to receive go-ahead
Can't fly high enough to avoid ground fire
* Published: 28/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News
The army's inspection panel is expected to approve the delivery of a controversial airship even though it has failed its standard flight test, an army source says.
The airship inspection committee is expected to eventually approve the 350 million baht airship's delivery, the source said, despite the fact it cannot fly high enough to avoid ground fire.
The third flight test of the US-made Aero 40D airship showed it had a maximum ceiling of 3,100 feet.
This was within the range of an M16 rifle fired from the ground, the source said.
The airship was supposed to be able to fly above 3,280 feet, or 1km above the ground, which would make it safe from ground rifle attack.
The airship is intended for aerial patrols over the lower South.
The latest flight test was carried out yesterday at the Bo Thong airstrip at the 15th Infantry Regiment in Pattani's Nong Chik district, where it has been kept during the inspection.
"The committee will in the end have to accept the airship delivery," the source said.
The airship deal was expected to be sealed before army chief Anupong Paojinda retires at the end of September.
He has defended the purchase despite criticism over its cost, and whether the airship will be of any use.
The inspection committee is made up of three lieutenant colonels from the Department of Army Transportation.
There would, however, be more tests before the committee announces its final decision on the craft's delivery, the source said. The tests will be aimed at proving if the cameras mounted on three helicopters supporting the airship would work both night and day.
Tests will also be carried out to see if the cameras can capture pictures at different angles and whether broadcasting signals to the airship and a number of ground control centres can be synchronised in real time.
The airship also needs costly helium refills, the source said.
The cost of a helium refill ranges from 170,000 baht to 2.5 million baht.
The cabinet in March last year gave the army its approval in principle to buy the airship for about 350 million baht.
The craft was to have been delivered last August.
The handover has been delayed repeatedly because of problems in fulfilling the purchase contract on the part of the supplier.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/securit ... e-go-ahead
MILITARY
Cost of airship in question
* Published: 4/06/2010 at 02:01 AM
* Newspaper section: News
The army is to be asked to explain how much it is paying for an imported surveillance airship, after house committee hearings uncovered conflicting price estimates.
The lower house committee on military affairs wants the army to explain discrepancies in figures provided by its deputy chief and a customs official called to testify yesterday.
The controversial airship has been imported by the army to carry out patrol and surveillance work in the lower South.
The craft was to have been delivered last August. A full formal handover has been delayed repeatedly because of problems in fulfilling the purchase contract on the part of the supplier.
The opposition-dominated house panel, chaired by Puea Thai Party MP for Nakhon Ratchasima Somchai Phesprasert, yesterday summoned Rattapon Martpong, a Customs Department technical official, to discuss the purchase of the airship.
Mr Somchai quoted Mr Rattapon as saying the actual price of the airship was 54 million baht.
The figure contradicted what deputy army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha had told the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr Somchai said.
Gen Prayuth told the NACC the airship was valued at 112 million baht, he said.
The army says the airship and its accompanying equipment will cost 350 million baht altogether.
The panel chairman also questioned the army's hasty approval of the airship delivery even though it had failed a standard flight test and some of the equipment did not function properly.
He would also seek an explanation from the army as to why it did not fine the airship supplier, US company Aria International, for an eight-month delay in delivery.
The company has received 270 million baht of the overall 350 million baht purchase price, Mr Somchai said.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/18 ... -way-media |
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