Thailand Eyes Submarine Fleet
Royal Thai Navy (RTN)'s plan to buy submarines is on again with strong backing from Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon who wants Thailand’s fleet to be on par with neighbouring countries.
Defence minister Prawit Wongsuwon was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post on Wednesday that the country needs to equip its navy, who wants Thailand’s fleet to be on par with neighboring countries.
The Minister thinks that Thailand must develop naval equipment, fleet and its neighboring countries in order to maintain the same level.
The budget allocation for the same could be around 36 billion baht ($1.1 billion), the report said.
Thailand’s plan to acquire submarines is neither new nor surprising. Lacking a submarine capability since 1951, the country has tried since the 1990s to ink submarine deals with several countries, including most recently Germany and South Korea.
Though they eventually did not materialize, many were expecting Thailand’s submarine quest to once again become a top priority once the ruling military junta seized power in a coup in May 2014.
The navy opened an ultra-modern, 540-million-baht submarine base and training centre in Chon Buri province in July last year, even though the country doesn't own a single sub.
The source said the Chinese-made Yuan class is favoured by the committee due to its specifications. The U-class from South Korea and Germany also pinged the sonar screen.
