Thailand and China have concluded negotiations on the Royal Thai Navy’s planned procurement of one Chinese-made S26T Yuan-class submarine.
RTN Commander-in-Chief Admiral Adoong Pan-iam said today that the deal is waiting for final approval from the cabinet, adding that, if the greenlight is granted, the RTN will proceed to amend the deal with the Chinese manufacturer.
He expects the submarine to be delivered in three years, which will help boost the navy’s capability, as the S26T Yuan-class submarine, which will be equipped with advanced weaponry, will be the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
The submarine deal has dragged on for years, due to the RTN’s insistence on German-made diesel engines, as stipulated in the procurement contract. Germany has, however, refused to supply the engine to China, as part of the EU’s boycott of China.
The RTN has now dropped its demand for German engines and has opted for the Chinese-made CHD620 diesel engine.
Admiral Adoong said he believes that the Thai public will be proud of the RTN for the acquisition of its first submarine, after which it may acquire one or two more.
