New government ministers so new distribution of envelopes required.

 

"In a move that perhaps signalled a shift, predecessor Sutin Khlangsang had suggested the navy might pivot to acquiring a frigate instead of the problematic submarine"

 

If they actually need a frigate then why didn't they try to buy one or is this just an attempt to make sure the budget gets spent, one way or another?

4 hours ago, jaideedave said:

As an ex submariner I think it's a waste of money and resources like the aircraft carrier they own.

The max depth of the gulf is 85 meters. The boat is 77 meters. That is about 1 boat length + or - . I suppose it would be easy to find in an emergency if the prop was sticking out .

Who are they defending against? Myanmar, Cambodia. Laos is landlocked.

China? As someone mentioned maybe there are some behind closed doors deals being worked on for everyones mutual benefit. TIT

FYI the Persian Gulf is only 90 meters deep and the Yanks have nuke boats there.

 

 

Thailand  has a large foreign fishing fleet.The ships operate throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Thai vessels have been hijacked and taken hostage. (Not all incidents are  publicized.) A submarine allows an alternative  option for protecting  that fleet and for protecting cargo vessels and oil tankers that are service the Thailand trade route.

Never mind... they can still celebrate "Submarine " day every year, without and subs, which makes me think, do they have a staffed Submarine section...

20 hours ago, John Drake said:

This is not about buying submarines. It's about having a permanent posting for Chinese submarine "technicians" in a port that effectively will be a Chinese naval asset.

Similar to the berthing facilities the Chinese built in Sihanukville for their ships.

Could it be that Phumtham has accidentally found out the commission his predecessor was given, and now wants his share?

complete waste of money... not theirs, the few tax payers this country has... good investment right... for the happiness of the people...

19 hours ago, nahkit said:

why didn't they try to buy one

Because for about the last two decades Thailand has had submariners but no submarines?

18 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

A submarine allows an alternative  option for protecting  that fleet and for protecting cargo vessels and oil tankers

That might work in Lake Geneva in Switzerland but frigates are best means to protect a fleet and cargo ships. Do you think the shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are protected by submarines versus surface warships plus shore-based aircraft?

On 11/27/2024 at 7:24 PM, webfact said:

This long-anticipated project, valued at 12.4 billion Thai Baht

 

Probably down to the last couple of hundred thousand by now....

 

Mission accomplished....

On 11/28/2024 at 12:05 PM, Gsxrnz said:

Nobody in the entire English-speaking world uses the word "nascent", or knows what it means. 

AI does.