Thailand Ditches Chinese Submarine, Opts for Frigate Replacement!
Thailand appears to be ready to temporarily set aside its efforts to acquire a submarine from China, which is currently facing various issues, and instead "replace" it with a frigate built by the major Asian power.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Neighboring country, Thailand, has decided to acquire a frigate from China to “replace” the “problematic” submarine it was supposed to receive from Beijing this year.
Thailand was supposed to receive a submarine from China this year, but Beijing has so far failed to deliver it due to issues with obtaining the “appropriate” engines.
Now, Bangkok appears to be ready to temporarily set aside the purchase of the Chinese submarine and instead “replace” it with a frigate.
Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang reportedly stated that the Southeast Asian country is postponing its efforts to obtain a submarine due to engine-related issues.
He said that the frigate they are set to acquire from China has the capability to address air, surface, and underwater threats.
“And its price is nearly the same as that of a submarine,” he added.
Thailand signed a contract with China in 2017 to acquire a Yuan-class S-26T submarine worth $350 million (RM1.5 billion).
The submarine acquisition contract has been uncertain for Bangkok because they insisted on equipping their first submarine with German-made MTU396 engines, as agreed upon in the contract.
Beijing couldn’t complete the Thai submarine with the German-made MTU396 engines because China was subject to military embargo by the European Union that prohibited the export of military equipment or components to China.
As a solution, Beijing proposed using their own submarine engine, the CHD 620, developed by the Henan Diesel Engine company.
Reports from Thai media stated that both countries reached an agreement last June, which would see Thailand’s first submarine equipped with China’s CHD 620 diesel-electric engine.
However, the change in Thailand’s government, led by military general Prayut Chan-o-cha, seems to have influenced the government’s decision regarding the submarine.
The current government of the Southeast Asian nation, now led by civilian Prime Minister Srettha Thaivisin, appears to have altered the decision made by the previous leadership which agreed to use China-made engines in their submarine.
Thailand is now resolute and does not wish to accept a submarine equipped with Chinese-made engines.
Indeed, Bangkok has low confidence in the capabilities of China-made engines, especially the CHD 620 proposed for the S-26T submarine, as it has not yet been tested.
Thailand is said to have sought “assistance” from Pakistan to provide them with the latest and most detailed information regarding the Chinese-made submarine engines set to be used in the eight Hangor-class submarines owned by the South Asian nation’s navy.
Pakistan obtained eight Hangor-class (Yuan-class) submarines from China, with four built in China and four in Pakistan under a technology transfer concept. — DSA
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