Suthin Backs Down On Swapping Submarine For Frigate

[webfact]

 

DEFENCE MINISTER SUTHIN Khlangsaeng has given up on his earlier call for the navy to procure a Chinese-built frigate in place of a troublesome Chinese-built submarine.

 

The civilian member of cabinet said today (Dec.15) he has finally agreed to the navy’s sustained plan to procure submarines, either from China or elsewhere, despite reported failure on the part of China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. to procure the German-made MTU396 engine to be installed aboard the Yuan-class S26T submarine already purchased by the Thai navy.

 

Suthin has earlier pushed for the procurement of a yet-unspecified Chinese-built frigate in fiscal 2024 to add to a fleet of six frigates in replacement of the S26T submarine the delivery of which has been repeatedly put off due to lack of the German-made engine as specified in the purchase contract.

 

Nevertheless, according to the defence minister, the navy’s long-awaited maritime strategic development scheme will remain intact with respect to the planned procurement of the Chinese-built submarine, a sum of seven billion baht in down payment for which has been earlier made.

 

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

Composite photos showing Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsaeng and a Chinese-built submarine. Credit: Matichon

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2023-12-16

 

- 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

[2baht]

The slings have already long been divied up!

[smedly]

18 minutes ago, 2baht said:

The slings have already long been divied up!

correct, reading between the lines I had better remain silent, I am sure all monies earned are legit and none of them are unusually rich.       555

 

what a joke

[sammieuk1]

The next procurement should only cost about 2 billion after disbursements and sub sub-committees  🤔 

 

[jacko45k]

Crikey, this moronic topic raises it's head again. 

[hotchilli]

17 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Crikey, this moronic topic raises it's head again. 

Thai style in action again, or in-action.

Complete fiasco.

[mikebell]

So they've paid seven billion up-front for something that doesn't meet their specifications?  I can't think why hard-headed Thai politicians would do such a thing!

[PETERTHEEATER]

Has the seller been asked to confirm that the ' return to sender' setting on the supplied torpedos can be disabled?

[Lucky Bones]

I trust that payment will be COD upon Kerry delivery? (Hint: Check for engine.)🙃🙃

[mfd101]

It would make a great read to see the original strategic and operational planning that the Navy used to propose & justify the purchase of submarines.

 

(Probably 2 minutes to get to the end?)

[spidermike007]

 

My question is this. If the extremely toxic and dangerously timid army were unwilling to take any risks whatsoever, with regard to Covid, why are they spending 22 billion plus baht on submarines? Obviously there is some risk in operating subs, and even more risk if as they say, they are purposed to protect against terrorist threats and any threat in the South China Sea. 

 

No doubt, the Chinese subs are likely poorly made. Thankfully the Chinese navy is incapable of traveling more than 1,500 km., in ideal conditions. Likely more like 600 km. in war conditions. And they have very few deep sea ports. Their navy is a threat only to their smaller neighbors. 

 

Thai naval forces have not operated submarines for over 60 years now, while neighboring countries, particularly those with a major dispute at sea with Thailand, such as Vietnam, are all equipped with modern submarines. 

 

This government is a whirlpool of conflicting loyalties and interests. It's leader has to manage those interests, and effectively buy the loyalties of the various parts of the armed forces. The submarines are the price he has to pay for the navy supporting him. They will end up unusable and unaffordable, as did the aircraft carrier. There is no strategic justification for the submarines.

 

There is really no military threat to Thailand, none of the countries with which it shares a land border have the capacity for anything other than the occasional cross border firefight. If you look carefully at all the military procurement of recent years, they are all to support ambitions, and thus buy the support of the various rival groups within the armed forces. They simply do not add up to any sort of a coherent modernisation or re-equipment of what remains a largely obsolete, immobile and under trained force, able only to undertake the most mundane of garrison duties, whilst it's bloated leadership occupies itself with playing politics or their own largely unregulated business ventures.

 

The government however (or more realistically those to whom it reports) must rely upon the military to keep it in power. It was put into power for one core function; to prevent the nascent political, social and economic liberalisation of Thai society which arose with the arrival of new technologies and communications, which have allowed a (younger) population which has long been kept ill educated and dependent for any advancement on its elders and sponsors, to communicate, educate themselves and develop business independent of those elders and sponsors.

 

The Covid crisis was in a dimension beyond that, and it's timid, chaotic "rabbit in the headlights" response to the challenges it brought were simply because it did not know how to react, other than to use some of the opportunities to exercise power, in pursuit of that core function, which the social and political restrictions they argue the disease has necessitated, and granted them.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

So they've paid seven billion up-front for something that doesn't meet their specifications?  I can't think why hard-headed Thai politicians would do such a thing!

Apparently the civilian wants to keep his head.

[2baht]

43 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

It would make a great read to see the original strategic and operational planning that the Navy used to propose & justify the purchase of submarines.

 

(Probably 2 minutes to get to the end?)

It's justified by the high price!  🫡

[Guderian]

Maybe it's time for the British and American governments to think about proposing THUKUS?

[shackleton]

The Submarine will go the same way as  their aircraft carrier its all about prestige and having something they don't really need or afford 🤔 

[Burma Bill]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

in place of a troublesome Chinese-built submarine.

 

Why not go for another load of armed "junk"

 

[brianthainess]

The deals on, the deals off, repeat and rinse, make yer bloody mind up. And we all thought Prayuth was the worst PM ever.

[John Drake]

The Thai navy is going to need Chinese "technicians" to be based in Thailand along with the submarine. They wouldn't be needed for a business as usual frigate. That's why the subs stay and the frigate  is forgotten.

[StayinThailand2much]

At least, getting a frigate, the sailors have a chance to save their lives, should the Made-in-China vehicle suffer from Tofu-dreg...

[herfiehandbag]

14 hours ago, mikebell said:

So they've paid seven billion up-front for something that doesn't meet their specifications?  I can't think why hard-headed Thai politicians would do such a thing!

And the Chinese are not prepared to swap it for the down payment on a frigate instead, there is no way that they will get it back, so they can either cancel and take the hit ( and loss of face) or settle for a submarine with a knock off copy engine. 

 

So the white elephant submarine it is; but I think we all knew that all along!

[lordgrinz]

It's sort of like a poor Thai farmer driving around in a shiny Mercedes or BMW, which he can't afford, it's all about the bling!

[StayinThailand2much]

On 12/16/2023 at 9:58 AM, Guderian said:

Maybe it's time for the British and American governments to think about proposing THUKUS?

 

It's already AUKUS, so adding Thailand would result in (out of) THAUKUS.

 

Anyway, if other interested countries were to join it might become JAUKUS or NAUKUS...

[herfiehandbag]

On 12/16/2023 at 8:38 AM, mfd101 said:

It would make a great read to see the original strategic and operational planning that the Navy used to propose & justify the purchase of submarines.

 

(Probably 2 minutes to get to the end?)

I seem to recall that arousing reactions of awe amongst the neighbours was on of the quoted reasons for acquiring submarines.

 

Now they have managed to spend this remarkable amount of money to end up with a submarine with no engine, they will certainly have provoked a reaction amongst those neighbours; I somehow doubt it will be one of awe!