ARMY TO BUY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS FOR DRUG UNIT

The army will buy two Black Hawk helicopters this year for its new
drug-busting border unit, Task Force 399.

The covert force, part of the Third Army, will operate along the northern
frontier with Burma, targeting drug traffickers.

It will be equipped with the latest in weaponry and gear, including
night-vision equipment.

Task Force 399 was formed in January. The troops are now being trained by
US special forces in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces.

The army hopes to buy 20 Black Hawks altogether for use by the new force.
The first two would be purchased this year, a source said, with two more
every year until 2009.

The procurement will be made under the US military aid programme. The
helicopters will be sold at a special price of US$10 million each,
including training and accessories.

Until they were available, Task Force 399 would use Bell 212 helicopters.

This year the army sought 900 million baht in the budget to buy two Black
Hawk helicopters and 200 million baht to buy night-vision equipment.

Gen Boonrawd Somtas, army chief-of-staff, said the task force would
continue operating until the drug scourge was rooted out.

Gen Boonrawd denied the task force was aimed at pressuring neighbouring
countries, particularly Burma, to solve drug problems on their territory.

The Thai and US military were co-operating in drug suppression drives. Last
year, Adm Dennis Blair, chief of the US Pacific Command, visited Thailand
for a briefing from the Third Army.

Sources said army chief Gen Surayud Chulanont planned to visit the US in
June to discuss further co-operation.

To support the work of Task Force 399, Gen Surayud has ordered the Lop Buri
Special Warfare Command to set up a rapid deployment force to deal with
border intrusions.