Thailand’s Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang said today (Monday) that he is ready to explain, to the House Military Affairs Committee, his decision to switch from procuring a submarine from China to a frigate, even though the surface vessel is more expensive.

 

While admitting that there are reservations about the change, citing the cost of sending Thai naval officers to China for submarine operational training and the cost of building a special wharf for the submarine, he insisted that the decision to opt for a frigate instead is based on careful consideration, including the legal aspect of pressing ahead with the procurement of a submarine fitted with a Chinese-made engine, instead of the specified German model..

 

He said that he did not make the decision alone, but had consulted the Royal Thai Navy’s commander-in-chief and other naval officers involved in the project.

 

Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-10-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

They had to opt for something more rather than less expensive because there were already the "sunk costs" of the submarine deal!

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang said today (Monday) that he is ready to explain, to the House Military Affairs Committee, his decision to switch from procuring a submarine from China to a frigate, even though the surface vessel is more expensive

 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

While admitting that there are reservations about the change, citing the cost of sending Thai naval officers to China for submarine operational training and the cost of building a special wharf for the submarine,

Hang about a mo, I thought one of the main arguements advanced for buying the submarine(s) was that they had long had both a submarine base and a pool of trained personnel, were ready to go, and didn't want to waste the infrastructure and training!

Hardly seems fair to grill the current Defense Minister, just because he has been left holding the bag (which is devoid of cash because his predecessor took it already).

 

But what can you do?

 

 

Now who was the Minister of Defense when this deal was struck? Oh, right, Prayut Chan-Ocha. Maybe question him.

 

 

18 hours ago, webfact said:

he insisted that the decision to opt for a frigate instead is based on careful consideration,

of the various sweeteners on offer.  The sub ones have all been spent.

8 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

Hang about a mo, I thought one of the main arguements advanced for buying the submarine(s) was that they had long had both a submarine base and a pool of trained personnel, were ready to go, and didn't want to waste the infrastructure and training!

Tut tut! There's always someone sneaking in snippets of truth to muddy the water...😋