Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Royal Thai Navy is celebrating a major step forward in its long-delayed submarine procurement project, as a replica of the country’s first Chinese-built submarine has been installed at the entrance to the Royal Thai Fleet Command in Sattahip, Chonburi.

 

The installation of the life-size model comes shortly after the Thai Cabinet approved a key amendment to the purchase agreement, allowing the replacement of the original German-made MTU396 engine with China’s CHD620 engine. The decision also includes a 1,217-day extension to the submarine’s construction timeline.

 

The Yuan-class S26T submarine, being constructed under a government-to-government (G2G) deal with China, marks Thailand’s return to underwater capabilities for the first time in decades. Originally signed in 2017, the contract with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. (CSOC) is valued at 7.7 billion baht. As of now, 64% of the project is complete, with 10 out of 18 payment instalments made. The remaining payments total around 5.5 billion baht.

 

Progress on the submarine had stalled since 2021, after China was unable to supply the German engine specified in the original contract due to export restrictions. The recent Cabinet decision has unblocked the impasse, allowing construction to resume with the Chinese-made engine.

 

The reinstallation of the submarine model at the Royal Thai Fleet Command is not just a symbolic gesture, it also marks a broader upgrade of the area’s naval exhibits. Alongside the submarine replica, the Navy is showcasing other key assets, including the decommissioned AV-8S Harrier jump jet, once operated from HTMS Chakri Naruebet and the T.99patrol boat.

 

The T.99, which served the Navy for 34 years before being retired on 1 October 2022, holds special significance. It was built under the royal guidance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, as part of a mission to strengthen maritime sovereignty.

 

The return of the submarine replica not only enhances the landscape of the Fleet Command headquarters but also symbolises the Navy’s growing ambitions and future capabilities. With the S26T project now back on track, the Royal Thai Navy is one step closer to deploying a submarine that will bolster national maritime security for years to come.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-08-08

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure that's been there for weeks

If that's life size, looks like the Chinese have palmed the Thais off with a mini sub!

But you can't take photos of it.  It's near the defunct aircraft carrier and the navy, never having heard of Google Maps, prevents photos of the ship and through plane windows landing at U-tapao.

The new Chinese sub should make for a nice tourist attraction along side the defunct aircraft carrier, that's if they don't sink it before leaving the harbor.

8 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

The new Chinese sub should make for a nice tourist attraction along side the defunct aircraft carrier, that's if they don't sink it before leaving the harbor.

When did Thailand get an aircraft carrier ?

11 minutes ago, mikebell said:

But you can't take photos of it.  It's near the defunct aircraft carrier and the navy, never having heard of Google Maps, prevents photos of the ship and through plane windows landing at U-tapao.

It is nowhere near the aircraft carrier and is alongside the public highway 3, at the entrance to Fleet Command.

I know where they got it. 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

When did Thailand get an aircraft carrier ?

 The Chakri Naruebet, is the Thai aircraft carrier with no aircraft.  This decrepit hulk is now moored in the harbour at Sattahip.  It is advertised on Tripadvisor – ‘For Thai citizens only and have to check before going because the ship is still active and go out for operations sometime.’  Not sure when it was 1st acquired nor when it last took to the seas.

Also need to include replica Chinese "technicians" who will likely be based permanently with the submarine.

44 minutes ago, mikebell said:

 The Chakri Naruebet, is the Thai aircraft carrier with no aircraft.  This decrepit hulk is now moored in the harbour at Sattahip.  It is advertised on Tripadvisor – ‘For Thai citizens only and have to check before going because the ship is still active and go out for operations sometime.’  Not sure when it was 1st acquired nor when it last took to the seas.

 

AHH that one.... the helicopter carrier.

The real things will be moored soon enough awaiting repairs 

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The Royal Thai Navy is celebrating a major step forward in its long-delayed submarine procurement project, as a replica of the country’s first Chinese-built submarine has been installed at the entrance to the Royal Thai Fleet Command in Sattahip, Chonburi.

Money well spent.

6 hours ago, sungod said:

If that's life size, looks like the Chinese have palmed the Thais off with a mini sub!

Yea, the opening post article does say it's a "life size" model, but the article is probably wrong.   When googling for Yuan Class S26T submarine the below ThaiRath newspaper has an article and pictures that show it being a much bigger sub almost 80 meters long.   

 

https://www.thairath.co.th/news/society/2874862

 

They should have attached wheels and taken it to the northeast to threaten the Cambodians.

And if the 'real' sub never actually eventuates, they'll still have the model to show off to tourists.

“The Royal Thai Navy is celebrating a major step forward in its long-delayed submarine procurement project, as a replica of the country’s first Chinese-built submarine has been installed at the entrance to the Royal Thai Fleet Command in Sattahip, Chonburi.”

 

When this is cause for a celebration, then you know you don’t have much going for you.

7 hours ago, sungod said:

If that's life size, looks like the Chinese have palmed the Thais off with a mini sub!

Totally agree it looks like my toy submarine I used to play with in my swimming pool! As ide from the fact what a waste of money.

 

11 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

replica of the country’s first Chinese-built submarine has been installed at the entrance

 

from the photo:-

 

PRINCIPAL FORCE OF THE NAVY -

 

 A replica sunk in concrete - best laugh I have had today!

 

 

 

The Thai's are in for a shock if TEMU have a hand in this deal.

9 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

I know where they got it. 

 

 

That advertisement was a scam.  Yes you got the sub, but had to pay extra for the nuclear engine, the missles, and the torpedoes!   

 

At least that is what a friend told me when I was 10.   

The replicaof its engine is made of german plywood. No problem with Germany!

10 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

I know where they got it. 

 

 

I immediately thought that it was a Chinese copy of this high-tech submarine from the USA, what Thailand ordered. This is the proof!

It's kinda sad ... it actually happened. 

The engines will be fine. People forget or simply don't know how good Chinese engineering is. Not the crappy stuff everyone whines about, but the top class stuff they build.

4 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

A replica sunk in concrete - best laugh I have had today

or is it just the top half placed on top of the concrete wonder what it cost ? I mean what they actually paid 

27 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

People forget or simply don't know how good Chinese engineering is

Good Chinese engineering is Reproducing other nations' technology.

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

The engines will be fine. People forget or simply don't know how good Chinese engineering is. Not the crappy stuff everyone whines about, but the top class stuff they build.

That is true. The Chinese will build you whatever you want, to whatever specification you give them. If you want cheap and nasty, they’ll give you that. If you want high spec components for high end iPhones, they will give you that.

 

The price is, of course, different.

A ridiculous waste of money, both the supposed replica and the real thing if and when it arrives! At least it will have the unused Aircraft carrier to keep it company! 

15 hours ago, paul1804 said:

A ridiculous waste of money, both the supposed replica and the real thing if and when it arrives! At least it will have the unused Aircraft carrier to keep it company! 

I don't believe they have any vertical takeoff or landing aircraft to go with it bar helicopters.