Ukraine’s state-owned defence firm Ukroboronprom will increase weapon supplies to the Ukrainian army from next year.

The company plans to increase production of the Oplot-M main battle tank – a modernized variant of the T-84 – up to 120 units annually.

Ukraine and Thailand signed an agreement to extend the supply of tanks “Oplot-M”, the next batch of more than 10 main battle tank will be shipped in 2016.

The Oplot-M main battle tank (MBT) is developed by Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The MBT can destroy ground-based and low-flying, low-speed aerial targets, while offering superior protection and high mobility for troops.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence inducted the Oplot-M MBTs into service in 2009. In September 2011, the Royal Thai Army placed an order with Ukrainian arms trading company Ukrspetzexport for 49 Oplot MBTs. The Royal Thai Army now has 5 Oplot-M in service.