Army defends blimp repairs
The Army said yesterday that the deal worth Bt50 million for two foreign companies to repair and further equip its grounded airship in the South was permitted because a maintenance agreement with the seller had expired.
After the repair work is done, the Army’s lone blimp will be operational by November, said spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree.
New optical surveillance and signalrelaying equipment will be installed after the completion of the maintenance work, he added.
The Army has spent Bt25 million to maintain the Bt350-million blimp, which mostly involves Bt300,000 a month to keep it filled with helium to keep it intact and prevent leaks. Kept in a hangar in Pattani, the blimp was controversially purchased by former Army chief Anupong Paochinda with an aim to provide surveillance and air support to security forces. It’s manufactured by Worldwide Aeros Corp, one of the companies awarded the new contract.
According to an online news source, citing claims by highranking officers, there is still a Bt15million deposit to guarantee “effectiveness and satisfaction” not yet paid to Arial International, which sold the airship.
