Navy in pursuit of eighth frigate following Chinese-built submarine

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE NAVY IS RESOLUTELY looking to procure one more frigate to make a fleet of eight frigates in foreseeable future, said navy chief Adm. Adung Pan-iam today (July 24).

In addition to a Chinese-built, Yuan-class S26T submarine to be delivered over the next three years, the navy is still seeking to procure the eighth frigate to add to the Navy Fleet’s primary missions to safeguard Thai territorial waters in the Gulf of Thailand and the southeastern part of the Andaman Sea, according to Adm. Adung who is scheduled to retire at the end of the upcoming September.

The outgoing navy chief stopped short of saying from which country he would prefer to buy the new frigate, the funding for which might probably be provided as soon as the next fiscal year.

However, decisions pertaining to the planned purchase of the sought-after frigate would likely be made in the time of his successor who is yet to be named in the next few months.

But Adm. Adung said the planned procurement of the eighth frigate would not need any more money than usually provided out of the government budget on a yearly basis and that efforts on the part of the navy would be continued to save its regular expenditure in the foreseeable future.

The Navy Fleet currently deploys seven frigates, including South-Korean-built HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej (FFG-471), Chinese-built, Naresuan-class HTMS Naresuan (FFG-421) and HTMS Taksin (FFG-422) and Chinese-built, Chao Phaya-class HTMS Chao Phaya (FFG-455), HTMS Bangpakong (FFG-456), HTMS Kraburi (FFG-457) and HTMS Saiburi (FFG-458).

Most are deployed by the First Navy Fleet, headquartered at Sattahip naval base.

CAPTIONS:

Top:  HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej. Photo: Matichon

Insert: Navy Chief Adm. Adung Pan-iam. Photo: Thai Rath

Front Page: HTMS Chao Phraya (FFG-455) of the Royal Thai Navy. Photo: Asia Pacific Defense Journal

Also read: PM shrugs off Navy Chief’s concern over delayed Chinese submarine purchase

Navy Chief worried about govt delay over Chinese-built submarine purchase

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