The particular Royal Thai Navy (RTN) could accept Chinese-made engines for the S26T Yuan-class submarine it is in the process of buying, it was revealed on Tuesday.
Speaking to media, RTN spokesman Pokkrong Monthatphalin said that China Shipbuilding & Offshore Worldwide Co (CSOC) has sent the specifications of an improved version of its CHD620 diesel powered engine to replace the German-made MTU396 diesel engine.
He said the particular RTN’s chief-of-staff, Adm Thaloengsak Sirisawat, acquired stressed that what other must match the particular specifications of the agreed model and the RTN will carry out a thorough assessment which is expected to be finished by Sept 15. When the specs prove sufficient, the RTN will certainly ask CSOC to send it the motor for testing. If it passes, there will be no need to amend the contract, Vice Adm Pokkrong said.
Under the contract, CSOC is permitted to create changes to any areas of the submarine as long as replacements are associated with at least equal high quality, he said.
“But if the substitute from CSOC cannot pass test, the contract should be terminated, and the two sides will have to hold talks to discuss settlement or a refund.
“However, the RTN would prefer to not completely reset the procedure, if possible, ” Vice Adm Pokkrong stated.
This individual added that CSOC will be using the new engines in its own submarines, and Asia and Sri Lanka is going to be among the first foreign receivers of the model.
Asked whether the substitute breaches the contract, which stipulates that the engine should already be in energetic use by any nation, Vice Adm Pokkrong said that the RTN would have to sort this problem out.
The RTN had earlier fixed on Tuesday because the deadline for CSOC to honour its agreement to supply the S26T Yuan-class submarine with German-made MTU396 diesel engines.
During recent talks, the deadline was pushed when Liu Song, the visiting vice president of CSOC, claimed the German manufacturer’s decision not to provide an engine has been final, according to Vice Adm Pokkrong.
CHD620 diesel engines were furthermore offered, but the RTN declined as they aren’t in current use anywhere, he mentioned.
Asia procured its first Yuan-class S26T submarine from China in 2017 for 13. 5 billion baht.
The following delivery, scheduled with regard to September 2023, may be postponed until 04 2024.