KYIV, September 22 /UKRINFORM/. The Kharkiv-based Malyshev Plant announced plans to produce by the end of the year the first batch of five Oplot tanks for the Thai Army. Overall, under the contract the Ukrainian company will make 49 tanks worth over USD 200 million, Volodymyr Mazin, a representative of the Ukroboronprom SEs director general, told UKRINFORM on Friday.

"Under the contract with Thailand, this year we produce five Oplot tanks. "The contract is designed for 2 years. We must do, they take, and the shipment will be later, for example, in January," he said.

A reminder that Ukraines state-controlled arms exporter Ukrspecexport signed the contract with Thailand for the supply of 49 Kharkiv tanks in September 2011.