Ukraine will soon send to Thailand the remaining 13 Oplot tanks produced by the Malyshev Plant, First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleh Hladkovsky has said.

"We have a contract with the Thai side for the delivery of 49 Oplot tanks. I am happy to say that despite everything, Ukraine will fulfill its obligations to our partners, and in the near future it will send for the needs of the Royal Thai Army the remaining 13 combat machines that have already been manufactured by the Ukrainian enterprise Malyshev Plant. They are now being prepared for tests and confirmation of their characteristics," the NSDC's press office quoted Hladkovsky as saying on Thursday, November 16.

The NSDC first deputy secretary took part in the Defense and Security 2017 exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand. The Ukrainian delegation at the exhibition was headed by Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak.

During the visit, the Ukrainian side held talks with a deputy prime minister, defense minister of Thailand and the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army. In addition, during meetings with the heads of defense departments of Thailand, the sides discussed the possibility of creating a service center for armored vehicles, transfer of technology and expanding areas of cooperation in the defense sphere.

In recent years, Thailand has been one of the largest importers of Ukrainian armored vehicles in South-East Asia. The Thai side purchased more than 250 Ukrainian armored vehicles, in particular, BTR-3E1s and Oplot battle tanks. In 2010-2015, Ukraine supplied Thailand with 233 BTR-3E1s as part of contracts concluded in 2006 and in 2011 for a total amount of about $270 million. In 2011, Ukraine and Thailand signed a contract worth more than $200 million to supply 49 Ukrainian Oplot tanks to Thailand.

In the conditions of external aggression against Ukraine, armored vehicles to the customer have been delivered since 2014 according to the schedule specified by the parties. The contract, according to previously released data, is due to expire in the autumn of 2017.