Lawmaker Opposes HIMARS Purchase, Backs Thai-Made D11A Rocket

During Defence Ministry Section 8 budget deliberations, Navy Captain Kittipong Piyawannano, a People's Party list MP, called for reducing the budget for a multi-launch rocket system (HIMARS) procurement project valued at 4.2 billion baht, with 420 million baht allocated in the first phase of fiscal year 2570. He raised concerns that ammunition and component purchases remain subject to U.S. government approval, and that even if Thailand has funds available, it cannot guarantee receiving supplies in the quantity and timeframe needed during a crisis. Kittipong questioned whether Thailand is buying rocket launchers or buying capability, noting that HIMARS is merely a firing platform and that the army should clarify what type of rockets will be purchased, their range, and usage conditions.

Kittipong further stated that Thailand has an alternative: the D11A multi-launch rocket system developed by the Defence Technology Institute in cooperation with the army and private companies. The D11A can fire up to 300 kilometers and shows little practical difference from HIMARS, with no guarantee that the U.S. will approve long-range missiles for Thailand. He argued that the D11A costs significantly less and questioned why Thailand should not invest the 4.2 billion baht in developing domestically built systems. When evaluating weapons, costs extend beyond purchase price to include ammunition, spare parts, maintenance, system upgrades, and supply chain risks. While Thailand can wait for foreign spare parts during peacetime, in wartime an inoperable weapon is a useless weapon.