Thai navy’s frigate procurement plan gets house committee’s nod

[webfact]

 

The Royal Thai Navy‘s (RTN) plans for procuring a new frigate have received endorsement from the House of Representatives committee on the armed forces. This move is expected to pave the way for more job opportunities for local labour.

 

The RTN’s frigate procurement strategy recently encountered a setback when its budget request of 17 billion baht (US$480 million) for the 2024 fiscal year was turned down by a House subcommittee scrutinizing the budget.

 

Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MP from the Move Forward Party (MFP) and the committee chair, communicated the committee’s approval of the navy’s proposal during a seminar on military’s role in local governance. He highlighted that this frigate will be the first to be assembled in Thailand, a move predicted to generate a minimum of a billion baht in income for local workers.

“The government paid 15 billion baht (US$424) for the HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej frigate a decade ago. The new frigate will be more expensive if it is not assembled in Thailand,” Wiroj informed.

He further explained why the committee supported the frigate procurement plan but dismissed the navy’s plan to purchase a new submarine. Wiroj deemed a new frigate as a sensible purchase, while considering a new submarine as unnecessary.

“If the submarine procurement plan went ahead, every single baht we spent on the project would go towards the Chinese shipyard. It won’t create new jobs locally and enhance the skills of our workers,” he elaborated.

 

Wiroj acknowledged the common practice of armed forces branches proposing budgets for necessary procurement. However, he pointed out the past’s lack of transparency in these plans, which resulted in a loss of public faith in the process.

 

The House committee’s role is crucial in aligning the armed forces and the public, building trust between the parties by conducting a fair and transparent investigation into such plans, Wiroj stated.

 

In response to an enquiry about the Dhupatemiya Golf Course in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district, Wiroj suggested that the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) could consider transferring the area for public use, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Toopkrajang, chairman of the Pathum Thani PAO, confirmed the province’s readiness to develop the area for locals.

 

by Mitch Connor

PHOTO: via Navy.mil

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-03-11

 

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[bamnutsak]

Two to three Billion Baht "breakage" on this "procurement".

 

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

This move is expected to pave the way for more job opportunities for local labour.

 

Eventual salvage.

 

 

 

[connda]

2 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Two to three Billion Baht "breakage" on this "procurement".

 

Eventual salvage.

 

...in Bangladesh.

[OneZero]

Both frigate & sub decisions appear, at first blush at least, to make cost-effectiveness sense.

 

But, but, but, is the ridiculous CCP submarine issue 100% finally dead, or just a horror show Faustian devil to repeatedly rise from the dead?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“The government paid 15 billion baht (US$424) for the HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej frigate a decade ago. The new frigate will be more expensive if it is not assembled in Thailand,” Wiroj informed.

Quality costs... nuff said.

[phetpeter]

The British Royal navy has a few ships available at knockdown prices, and so has the USA, buy them cheap and refit them in Thailand, can get 2 or 3 for the price of one.

[bamnutsak]

3 hours ago, OneZero said:

But, but, but, is the ridiculous CCP submarine issue 100% finally dead

 

No, AFAIK, it is still alive.

 

The frigate is supposed to be a bait/switch for the sub but I don't think the Chinese want to play that game.

 

 

[cncltd1973]

this is going to be a major sh*t show. sunk your American boat so you will build your own with the same budget? plenty of opportunity to  pocket funds and cut corners, oh well, it'll end up on the sea floor anyway. what makes them think they can build a seagoing warship on their first attempt? they struggle to make ferries that don't capsize, now you're going to load them weapons and think they will be competent? must have some very strong amulets that we don't know about cause this has disaster written all over it