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People's Shield Phase Two | Tai People's Liberation Army Armoured Forces 2021

Khon Kaen has inked a major military arms deal with Moscow, days after Siam finalized their own second phase of their rearmament plan with the United States. This particular purchase is believed to be part of the TPLA's long-term modernization plans, dubbed People's Shield 2030 by the Siamese press and observers of the Thai States, of which little has been revealed. The $1.85 billion dollar deal will be split between 2020 and 2021 and paid entirely in Eurasian rubles, according to the Channel 47, the nation's premier state media agency, and will involve the delivery of 600 T-90S and 140 additional T-90MS tanks. The switch to a more advanced model follows leaks from TPLA headquarters regarding the 'adequate, but not outstanding' performance of the batch of 100 second-hand T-72B3Ms purchased earlier in 2019, now assigned to units on the Cambodian frontier, largely regarded by many as a second-line posting. In total, the plan will add 740 tanks to the TPLA's existing 496 tanks, which have all been acquired via purchases and aid programs in 2020 and 2019, bringing the TPLA's armoured force up to 1,236, five times that of the currently planned fleet size of the Royal Siamese Army of 200, consisting M1A1s and A2s. Also stated within Channel 47's broadcast on the matter was Khon Kaen's intent to utilize the thousand-strong tank force, almost completely modern and one of the largest in the region, to support defensive efforts of Pattaya Alliance members within the same region from external threat along with the other arms of the TPLA. A separate deal for a hundred ex-Eurasian Army Msta SPGs worth $200 million, also paid in Rubles, was confirmed a few hours later. A spokesman for the TPLA questioned by Bangkok Post confirmed talks were also underway to acquire additional bridge-laying, recovery and ammunition vehicles to support the Russian armour.

The TPLA's rapidly growing capabilities are seen as a clear threat to Bangkok, which is struggling to modernize the Siamese military to an appropriate degree to counter the overwhelming superiority of the People's Army, current efforts severely mired by expensive prices of cutting-edge western equipment, a smaller and older population base, as well as significantly higher standards of recruitment and pay. Further issues are also plaguing the Siamese on the diplomatic front, with the current hiatus on military exchanges with Japan following the latter's acension to the Pattaya Alliance and sales of warships to China as well as the 'tightening of the noose' around Siam, with neighbouring South East Asian powers joining the aforementioned Alliance. A response is not expected from Siam within the week, however, as the bureaucracy and politicians busy themselves with the General Elections.

The Great Expanses