Military agrees to terms for submarine acquisitions
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has announced the resumption of its submarine procurement project, following a stalemate due to a dispute over engine specifications. The revised contract for the continuation of the project was signed on August 5 by representatives of the Thai government and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC).
The signing took place at CSOC's headquarters in Beijing, with Adm Jirapol Wongwit, the commander-in-chief of the RTN, representing the Thai government. CSOC's executive vice president, Liu Song, signed on behalf of China.
The original procurement contract, signed as a government-to-government deal in 2017, had a price tag of 13.5 billion baht. However, the revised contract includes significant modifications, most notably the replacement of the German-made MTU396 diesel engine with a Chinese-made CHD620 diesel engine. This change was necessary due to export restrictions on the MTU396 engine.
The revised contract also extends the construction deadline for the project by 1,217 days, or approximately 40 months. As a result, the delivery of the first submarine is now scheduled for late 2028.
The resumption of the project was announced on RTN's official Facebook page on Thursday, although the signing itself took place on Tuesday. The details of the individuals who represented each party at the signing were not provided in the available sources.
The project had been stalled for some time, but the revised agreement was approved by the Thai cabinet on Aug 5. The submarine procurement project will continue with the construction of Yuan-class S26T submarines, as per the revised contract.
This resumption of the submarine procurement project marks a significant step forward for the RTN, as it seeks to modernise its fleet and enhance its capabilities. The construction of these submarines will provide the RTN with advanced underwater capabilities, enabling it to better protect Thailand's national interests in the region.
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