PUBLISHED : 28 Oct 2023 at 07:49
The government’s decision to procure a Chinese-made frigate to replace a submarine the navy ordered in 2017 will pose a significant challenge for the navy, especially given that numerous items have been procured to support the submarine plan.
HTMS Chang, a new amphibious transport dock ship
Commissioned in April, HTMS Chang was to be used to help HTMS Ang Thong until the construction of the 13.9-billion-baht S26T submarine was finished. HTMS Chang, also called a landing platform dock (LPD) ship, was intended to serve as a submarine tender. However, with a displacement of 20,000 tonnes and a seven-figure operating cost, the vessel spends more time docked than at sea.
First phase of a submarine dockyard and support facility at Laem Thian in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district
The first phase of the submarine dockyard and support facility, with a budget of 857.6 million baht, is said to be behind schedule by 200 days and is 50% completed. About 434.8 million has been paid to the contractors. It is expected to be completed in December.
Second phase of a submarine base and support facility at Laem Thian in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district
The second phase, with an estimated budget of 810.2 million baht, is about 50% complete and nine days behind schedule. About 379.7 million baht has been paid. It is expected to be completed in November next year.
Submarine maintenance depot, infrastructure and support system
Estimated to cost 919.7 million baht, the facility is about 40% complete and 280 days behind schedule. It is expected to be completed next April. About 403.1 million baht has been paid.
A testing facility with storage for torpedoes and mines
The facility was completed in July with a budget of 129.3 million baht.
A testing facility with storage for guided missiles
Construction was completed in July with a budget of 136.9 million baht.
Submarine communications, command and control system
A budget of 300 million baht was set aside for systems procurement, and 10.5 million baht was disbursed. It comprises radio comms equipment (70 million baht), to be completed next September, and strategic command and control equipment and system (230 million baht), procurement of which is expected to begin next year.
In summary, the support system for the submarine project is estimated to cost 3.15 billion baht, and about 1.49 billion has been spent.
A 20-man delegation was deployed to Wuhan in China but the officers returned to Thailand when construction of the submarine was suspended.
Some 44 officers have been recruited to be the submarine crew.