The United States solemnly handed over to the Thai army the first four M1126 Stryker ICV armored personnel carriers with the 8x8 wheel formula. The ceremony was attended by the Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces of Thailand, General Afirat Kongsompong, and the Commander of the United States Command in the Indo-Pacific Region, Admiral Phil Davidson.
As previously reported, the entire US Department of Defense is preparing to supply Thailand with 120 Stryker wheeled armored personnel carriers through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales. Of these, 70 will be delivered this year, with Thailand paying only 47 vehicles, and 23 armored personnel carriers will be delivered in military aid. In the 2020 year, another 50 Stryker should be delivered, of which ten were paid by Thailand and 40 again in order of assistance.
All equipment will be delivered in the version of the ICV linear armored personnel carrier with installed weapons in the form of an 12,7-mm machine gun M2, other weapons will not be installed. Armored personnel carriers are taken from the presence of the American army with a preliminary overhaul.
The supply of armored personnel carriers is approved by the State Department and the US Congress. Thailand was the first foreign country to receive the Stryker in service.